Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club

RYA Marine Radio course at Island Barn on Sunday February 3rd .

Who's the Marine Radio course for?
Mostly people who use bigger boats - yachts and powerboats - on the sea. So it might be useful not only if you own a boat but if you fancy hiring or chartering one for a holiday.

Why bother?
The Marine Radio certificate is the minimum legal requirement to control VHF and VHF Digital radios around our coasts and is also recognised in most of Europe and other countries.
If you hold the 'old' VHF licence (pre-1999) you also need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase or are using new equipment.

Course Structure
The RYA Marine Radio course is 8 hours, plus an exam, so would take nearly 2 days if done in the classroom! That means the easiest way to do it is an online course followed by a practical exam.

So, if you sign up for this you would need to do the RYA's structured online course at home and then come to the sailing club on March 4 for the exam.

Find out more about it by looking at the RYA Taster course

Costs

The online course costs £49.99. There is a separate fixed fee of £60 which goes to the RYA for issuing the licence (which lasts for life). So the total cost would be £110 per person.

RYA Marine Radio (SRC)

Course Syllabus
The Short Range Certificate is the minimum qualification required by law to control the operation of VHF and VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) equipment on any British flagged vessel voluntarily fitted with a radio. This includes both fixed and hand held equipment using International channels.

A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures. Unnecessary transmissions could block out a Mayday distress call.

Course topics include:
the basics of radio operation
the correct frequencies (channels) to be used
distress, emergency and medical assistance procedures
making ship to shore communication
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) using simulators
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
Search and Rescue (SART)

The course will be taught and examined using radio simulators. The exam will also include a short written test.

The SRC course can be taken in the classroom or online with an RYA recognised training centre.

All new VHF sets are either fitted, or can be interfaced, with DSC allowing calls to specific vessels. If you hold the 'old' VHF licence (pre-1999) you need to upgrade your qualification if you purchase or are using new equipment. To upgrade a Restricted VHF licence to a GMDSS Short Range Certificate you should contact your local RYA Recognised Training centre to discuss the update training required and to organise a SRC examination.

Download the online taster course

Conduct of the Exam - The exam must take place at an RYA Recognised Training Centre using training radios.