RYA TUITION – SPECIALIST COURSES
Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator syllabus (from RYA G15/12 book):
1. General principles and basic features
- Types of communication in the maritime mobile services
- Types of station in the maritime mobile services
- Elementary knowledge of radio frequencies and channels appropriate to the VHF maritime mobile band
- Functionality of ship station equipment
2. The VHF radio installation
- Radiotelephone channels
- Basic controls and usage
- Portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus
- Maritime VHF antennas
3. Purpose and use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC) facilities
- The general principles and basic features of DSC
- Types of call
- The maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number system
- Call categorization and priority
- Call telecommand and traffic information
- VHF DSC facilities and usage
4. Search and Rescue (SAR) Procedures in the GMDSS
- Sea Areas and access to GMDSS facilities
- The role of RCCs
- Organization of Search and Rescue
5. Distress, urgency nd safety communication procedures in the GMDSS
- Distress communications via VHF DSC equipment
- Urgency and Safety communications via DSC equipment
6. Protection of distress frequencies
- Avoiding harmful interference
- Transmissions during distress traffic
- Prevention of unauthorised transmissions
- Test protocols and procedures
- Avoidance of transmissions in VHF guard bands
- Procedures to follow when a false distress alert is transmitted
7. Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
- The NAVETEX system
8. Alerting and Location Signals
- Purpose and definition
- Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
- Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART)
9. Ability to exchange communications relevant to the safety of life at sea
- Distress communications
- Urgency communications
- Safety communications
- Reception of MSI by VHF radiotelephony
- Awareness of the existence and use of the IMO Standard Marine Navigational Vocabulary
- Use of International phonetic alphabet
10. Regulations, obligatory procedures and practices
- Awareness of international documentation and availability of national publications
- Knowledge of the international regulations and agreements governing the maritime mobile services
11. Practical and theoretical knowledge of radiotelephone procedures
- Public correspondence and radiotelephone call procedures
- Traffic charges
- Practical traffic routines