Global Maritime Distress Safety System General Operations Certificate

• GMDSS safety of life at sea regulations
• GMDSS radio regulations
• Practical performance test for the following equipment:

1.  MF/HF transceiver
2. DSC controller
3. VHF transceiver
4. Navtex receiver
5. Telex (NBDP)
6. Inmarsat C and Inmarsat Fleet Broad Band (FBB)
7. Keyboards for data entry

• Miscellaneous GMDSS equipment (inc EPIRB, SART, AIS EPIRB and AIS SART)
• Miscellaneous skills and operational procedures for general communications, including Distress voice procedure and logging
• Assessment and discussion

• Available for all rates and ranks
• Preferably have basic knowledge of maritime radio communications practice and English language
• Preferably have reasonable keyboard skills (DISTRESS reporting at 50 Characters Per Min typed)
• Prior reading of relevant course information and basic communications
• Knowledge of Phonetic Alphabet
• Note: Where IELTS is at 5.5 it may be possible to arrange further assessment in order to meet the course requirements

The GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate qualifies the holder to operate any suitable licensed marine Radio Telephony (RT), Digital Selective Calling (DSC) or Maritime Mobile Earth Station onboard a GMDSS fitted vessel. Exams are conducted in accordance with directive from the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA).

NOTES:

This course requires out of hours self study culminating in a final examination set out by the provisions in the radio regulations for the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO).