SHORT RANGE CERTIFICATE RADIO COURSE

South Africa is in process of becoming a GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) Operational Sea Area 1 as per Marine Radio Regulations under the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) and ITU (International Telecommunications Union). A Sea Area 1 is defined as a coastal area within radiotelephone coverage of at least one VHF Coast Radio Station providing continuous availability of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) alerting.

VHF DSC will send alerts to CRS, RCC and vessels in the vicinity.
VHF DSC alerts are sent on channel 70. Subsequent radiotelephone communication is done on channel 16.
This area has a range of approximately 20 to 30 nautical miles.

What does this means for us?

Therefore all maritime communication equipment is now fitted with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) and all operators are now required to know how to use this system. We offer the SRC (Short Range Certificate) course according to IMO regulation HTW 1/3/5 – Restricted Operator’s Certificate for GMDSS. A radio certification according to international training standards, recognized worldwide. MTC offers you the training and examinations to meet this criteria through interactive training on state of the art simulators, enhanced by practice on actual VHF radios. A course focused at the small vessel skipper.

Please see Marine Notice 7 of 2018 for the latest update of the implementation to the Coastal Radio Stations in South Africa.

COURSES:

Our SRC courses are conducted on a part time as well as a full time basis to cater for the recreational as well as the commercial Mariner. The course is run full time course over 1 day. All training is conducted on state of the art Lightmaster Simulators and actual ICOM VHF radios. According to ITU regulations the course covers the new VHF voice procedures, DSC radio facilities, EPIRBs, SARRTs and legal requirements pertaining to Marine VHF radios.

The following topics are covered during the course:

A. General knowledge of radio communications in the Maritime Mobile Service

A1. The general principles and basic features

A2. System overview of the GMDSS structure

A3. Search and Rescue (SAR)

A4. Maritime Safety Information (MSI)

B. Practical knowledge of radio equipment

B1. VHF radio installation

B2. Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

B3. Antennas, interfacing and power sources

C. Procedures and practical operation of the subsystems

C1. DSC Distress, urgency and safety communication procedures

C2. Protection of distress frequencies

C3. Alerting, Communication and Locating Signals

D. Radiotelephony procedures

D1. Ability to exchange communications relevant to the Safety Of Life At Sea

D2. Practical and theoretical knowledge of radio communication procedures

E. Regulations for VHF communications

E1. Regulations, obligatory procedures and practices

EXAMINATIONS

All the examinations are conducted according to strict SAMSA and ITU regulations and consists of a theoretical as well as a practical portion. Candidates are tested on SOLAS regulations, general radio procedures, phonetics and DSC radio operations. On completion of the examination candidates will be well versed in the new marine radio voice procedures pertaining to Distress, Urgency, Safety and routine communications. Successful candidates will then be able to apply for the SRC Operators Certificate issued by SAMSA.

Course and Examination Fee: R 2 300.00

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