RYA TUITION – SPECIALIST COURSES

VHF RADIO OPERATOR

10 Vhf“This course provides the procedures for operation and gain the qualification to hold an operator’s licence, required by law, of a marine radio held or fixed set.”

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