SISOFLD005 — Navigate waterway courses

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What an assessment for SISOFLD005 must cover

91 assessable components: 3 elements (15 performance criteria), 4 performance evidence and 68 knowledge evidence requirements, plus 4 foundation skills. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Plan the course.

1.1Obtain and interpret waterway charts appropriate for the area of navigation.
1.2Determine expected wind, tidal, or current conditions for the intended course.
1.3Identify navigational hazards, position of landmarks and any buoyage to assist in planning and navigating the course.
1.4Utilise all information to plan an efficient course according to specific activity and waterway requirements.
1.5Identify and plot critical points along the course, midpoint and end destinations.
1.6Prepare a navigation data sheet, and identify emergency or contingency escape routes.

2 Navigate waterway courses.

2.1Select instrumentation and equipment suitable for navigation requirements.
2.2Follow the planned course using charts, natural and constructed features and any buoyage to assist.
2.3Use instrumentation and equipment as navigational aids to maintain course.
2.4Make required adjustments to course according to prevailing environmental conditions.
2.5Comply with waterway rules throughout all activities, including use of craft within permitted areas.

3 Fix position of craft.

3.1Fix position of craft at regular intervals to maintain planned course.
3.2Use techniques to estimate distance travelled, accounting for prevailing environmental conditions.
3.3Utilise navigation techniques to identify unfamiliar features and fix position when lost.
3.4Adjust and resume planned course where position indicates a deviation.

Performance evidence

plan and document three different waterway courses for small recreational craft
navigate each of the above three planned courses using charts, instrumentation and equipment appropriate for the waterway environment and small craft utilised
on two occasions, determine when the craft is deviating from a planned course, adjust and resume the planned course after fixing position using: • manual techniques on one occasion • a GPS device on one occasion
during each navigation activity, consistently follow waterway rules.

Knowledge evidence

trusted sources of waterway charts for the region or locality
different technologies used to access charts
characteristics of different chart types, their different uses, advantages and disadvantages, accuracy and sources of errors
information found on waterway charts including symbols and what they represent:
survey or edition date
map legend
scale and distance
latitude and longitude
compass rose or cardinal points and bearings
hydrographic features such as depth, high and low water mark, rocks, wrecks, obstructions
topographic features of surrounding land
buoyage
constructed features such as bridges, weirs, breakwaters, wharves and jetties
magnetic variation and annual change
principal colours used on waterway charts and what they represent
other information and key features that can assist with waterway navigation:
satellite imagery
aerial photographs
wave, wind, tide and current charts
navigational warning notices
features, functions and operation of navigation instruments either inbuilt or available for small watercraft
features, functions and operation of global positioning systems (GPS):
when these might be used, advantages and disadvantages
reliability of signal, device and battery
system structure at fundamental level of understanding
how to identify and use datum grids
how to create, enter and transfer waypoints
how to create courses and grid references
accuracy and sources of errors
different types of compasses used for waterway navigation, their features and factors which affect accuracy
for waterway environments, chart and compass techniques used to:
calculate grid, magnetic and true north bearings
measure distance on a chart
techniques used to fix location and navigate waterways, and applicability to different craft and environments:
using chart, identifying natural landmarks and constructed features and determining distance travelled
using dead reckoning, taking into account environmental factors such as winds, tides, currents and estimated speed
using simultaneous bearings, transits of coastal features and by running fix
using GPS devices
inclusions of navigation data sheets and their purpose:
grid reference points
grid and magnetic bearings
distances
estimated travelling times and times of arrival
identifiable features
escape routes
types of navigational buoyage, how these assist with navigation and rules for complying with buoyage:
marks – buoys and beacons
zone signage
how different types of navigational buoyage are distinguished by their specific colour, shape and topmark including colours for:
lateral: port and starboard marks
cardinal marks
safe water marks
danger zone marks
special zone marks
flashing lights and patterns
specific to the local state or territory:
categories of waterways determined by law and maritime authority:
description of waterways and limits
how to interpret basic limit charts issued by the local authority
life jackets required within the limits
safety equipment required for small craft within the limits, including V sheets and how these are used
rules specific to the operation of small watercraft:
give way rules – passing, crossing and overtaking powered and non-powered vessels
distance limitations (“distance off”) – rules for swimmers, designated swimming zones, dive flags, unpowered and powered vessels stationary or underway, moored or anchored vessels, built structures (bridges, jetties, navigation markers)
prohibited local areas – also called “exclusion” and “no go zones”
alcohol and drug restrictions
requirements for lights after sunset
incident reporting requirements including those for verbal and written reports.

Foundation skills

Reading: interpret detailed and potentially unfamiliar information on waterway charts. interpret potentially unfamiliar and complex information about waterway rules.
Writing: develop detailed navigation data sheets using correct terminology and symbols.
Numeracy: interpret and calculate detailed numerical data involving, distances, times and speeds.
Technology: use a range of technologies to access information about courses.

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing SISOFLD005

What does an assessment tool for SISOFLD005 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for SISOFLD005 needs to address all 91 unit components: 3 elements with 15 performance criteria, 4 performance evidence requirements, 68 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for SISOFLD005?

Auditori pulls the current release of SISOFLD005 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for SISOFLD005 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing SISOFLD005 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of SISOFLD005, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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