We are pleased to be able to offer the SRC / VHF course as an RYA Online course or as a one day classroom course.
This is for anyone who owns or wants to use a fixed or hand-held marine VHF radio. All students are required to sit a final exam at a training centre.
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.
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 new equipment. This can be done by completing the online course or by attending this one day course.
The maximum student to instructor ratio is 6:1 but we normally run this course with 1 or 2 people. Minimum duration 10 hours (including 3 hours guided self learning) plus exam.
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 telephone calls
- 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 using real VHF radios in our classroom or online using simulator software. Both courses include a short test
Please follow this link to the RYA website to see a video that explains the online course as well as a taster course that you can download onto various devices.
