Module 1: General knowledge of Radio Communications in the Maritime Mobile Service

1.   General Principles and Basic Features

2.   System Overview of the GMDSS Structure

3.   Search and Rescue (SAR)

4.   Maritime Safety Information (MSI)

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Module 2: Practical Knowledge of Radio Equipment

1.   VHF Radio Installation

2.   Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

3.   Antennas, Interfacing and Power Sources

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Module 3. Procedures and practical operation of the subsystems

1.   DSC Distress, Urgency and Safety Communication Procedures

2.   Protection of Distress Frequencies

3.   Alerting, Communication and Locating Signals

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Module 4. Radiotelephony procedures

1.   Ability to exchange communications relevant to the SOLAS

2.   Practical and theoretical knowledge of radio communication procedures.

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Module 5. Regulations for VHF Communications

1.   Regulations, Obligatory Procedures and Practices

Short Range Certificate 

Course Outline

Long Range Certificate 

Course Outline

1.   The Global Maritime Distress & Safety System

•  Introduction

•  Means of Communication

•  GMDSS systems

•  GMDSS functional configuration

•  Basic equipment

•  GMDSS ships radio watch

 

2.   Ships Antennas

•  General Information

•  Radio Waves

•  Antenna length & resonance frequency

  

3.   Regulations and Traffic procedures

•  Ships radio License

•  Radio Surveys

•  Radio Telephony communications –

    Calling procedures

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4.   Distress Signals and Distress Traffic

•  Introduction

•  General Regulations

•  Distress signals – MAYDAY

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5.   Urgency Transmissions

•  Urgency signal

•  Medical Advice ,Medico

 

6.   Safety Transmissions

•  Safety Signals

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7.   DSC – Digital Selective Calling

•  Background

•  DSC

•  DSC routine call

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8.   DSC Procedures for VHF-MF & HF

•  Distress

•  Urgency

•  Safety

 

9.   INMARSAT

•  Introduction

•  A general overview

•  The space segment

  

10.  IMARSAT – Fleet F77

•  Introduction

•  Fleet 77 Equipment

•  Distress , Urgency and Safety Communication

 

11.  INMARSAT – C

•  Introduction

•  System Operation

•  The Inmarsat system

12.  INMARSAT – M/B

•  Introduction

•  System operation

•  Inmarsat mobile number

  

13.  Telex Over Radio

•  Background

•  The system

•  The modem

•  Modulation

  

14.  Maritime Safety Information under the GMDSS

•  Background

•  Maritime safety information

•  Building Navtex message

   

15. Emenrgency Radio Beacons

•  General Information

•  Different types of beacons

•  VHF emergency beacons for manual activation 

  

16.  SART – Search and Rescue Transponders –

       Portable VHF Transceivers

•  Background

•  Range Performance

•  Test procedures

 

17.  Power Supplies

•  Radio Batteries

•  Lead Batteries

•  Ni-Fe batteries

  

18.  Maritime Mobile Traffic Charges

•  Radio Telelphone calls

•  Charges for radio telephone calls

•  Keeping a radio log

  

19.  False Alerts in the GMDSS

•  General information

•  INMARSAT- C

•  ERBIRB

•  DSC

 

20.  The role of RCC in the GMDSS

•  The 1974 SOLAS convention

•  The GMDSS system

•  RCC’s –MRCC’s – SAR co-ordination