We provide a number of different courses for professional seafarers and leisure sailors. To help you decide which course is for you, please visit our FAQ page.
Short Range Certificate For VHF Operators (SRC)
The Short Range Certificate (SRC) course is accredited by the Irish Department of Transport and is the minimum qualification required for use of VHF radios on boats in coastal or inland waterways. The course covers the latest DSC VHF radios, EPIRB, SART, NAVTEX, etc. The duration is 1.5 days including exams.
Who this course is for: Anyone who operates a recreational craft, passenger boat or fishing boat in coastal or inland waterways.
Length of course: This course is usually held over one evening, Friday, (3.5 hrs.) and one day, Saturday, (including exam time – approx. 8 hrs.). Though we can also run the course mid-week over two days.
Objective: To gain the knowledge and confidence to successfully operate VHF radio including sending and receiving distress communications.
Assessment: There are two written exams and two oral exam. Successful candidates will receive a Short Range Radio Certificate issued by the Department of Transport and recognized worldwide.
Prerequisites: While it is helpful to have previous knowledge of marine radio communications, it is not obligatory.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are given course notes and are encouraged to access our online simulator.
Course notes will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with VHF radios, as well as with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:
- Types of Communications in the Maritime Mobile Service
- Types of Stations in the Maritime Mobile Service
- Radio Frequencies and Channels
- Functionality of Ship Station Equipment
- Basic controls and usage of VHF radio
- VHF antennas Purpose and use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
- Search and Rescue Procedures (SAR)
- Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications in GMDSS
- Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
- Alerting and Location Signals
- Operational procedures and regulations for VHF Communications in regards to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Limerick
Fri, Nov 22 2024 - Sat, Nov 23 2024
Limerick 
285 Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Dublin
Fri, Feb 21 2025 - Sat, Feb 22 2025
Dublin Port
285 Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Galway
Fri, Mar 28 2025 - Sat, Mar 29 2025
Galway
285
If you do not see a scheduled date for the course that you wish to attend, please contact us indicating your interest and availability.
Long Range Certificate (LRC)
The Long Range Certificate (LRC) gives offshore recreational sailors and transoceanic yacht crews knowledge of MF/HF and INMARSAT – C / Fleet 77 systems, as well as VHF. This qualification is the minimum required for vessels operating offshore. Accredited by the Irish Department of Transport, the course is held over 4 days.
Who this course is for: Anyone that operates a radio on a recreational craft, passenger boat or fishing vessel more than 30 miles from the coast.
Every vessel that is equipped with MF/HF radio or a GMDSS-compliant satellite transceiver must carry at least one marine radio operator with this minimum qualification.
Length of course: This course is held over 4 days.
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctly operate Inmarsat C/Fleet 77 satellite and VHF/HF/MF radio equipment, including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are two written exams and two oral exams.
Successful candidates will receive a Long Range Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites:
Although not essential, it is preferred that candidates already hold a SRC.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are given course notes and are encouraged to access our online simulator. During the class, each student will have hands-on practice with our classroom GMDSS simulator, as well as plenty of practical experience with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:
- Types of communications
- Types of stations
- Radio frequencies
- Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
- GMDSS structure
- Search and Rescue (SAR)
- Maritime Safety Information (MSI), NAVTEX, Inmarsat C
- VHF radio installation
- MF/HF radio installation
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
- Antennas, interfacing and power sources
- Distress, urgency, safety communications
- Protection of distress frequencies
- Procedures/practical operation of Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
- Alerting, communication and locating signals
- Radiotelephony procedures - Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
- Regulations for VHF/MF/HF communications
Long Range Certificate (LRC) – Dublin
Wed, Jan 08 2025 - Sat, Jan 11 2025
Dublin Port
495
If you do not see a scheduled date for the course that you wish to attend, please contact us indicating your interest and availability.
Restricted Operators Certificate (ROC)
The ROC Restricted Operator Certificate course gives the professional seafarer competence in the operation of VHF and other inshore communications systems. This STCW endorsed qualification is required for SOLAS-compliant vessels operating within coastal waters. Accredited by the Irish Department of Transport, the course is held over 4 days.
Who this course is for: The professional seafarer, giving them the authority to operate VHF radio equipment on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) vessels in coastal waters.
Length of course: This course is usually held over four consecutive days, including exam time.
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctly operate a VHF radio installation, including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are three written exams and two oral exams. Successful candidates will receive a Restricted Operators Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites: Candidates must be over 18 years of age and have an adequate level of English to understand the course content and exam questions.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are encouraged to access our online simulator.
A comprehensive course manual will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with a VHF radio simulator as well as with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:
- Types of communications in Maritime Mobile Service
- Types of stations
- Radio frequencies
- VHF radio installation
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
- Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
- NAVTEX
- EPIRBs
- Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)
- Distress, urgency, and safety procedures in GMDSS
- Search and Rescue operation (SAR)
- Obligatory procedures and practices – general communications
Restricted Operators Certificate (ROC) Dublin
Wed, Jan 08 2025 - Sat, Jan 11 2025
Dublin Port
695
If you do not see a scheduled date for the course that you wish to attend, please contact us indicating your interest and availability.
General Operators Certificate (GOC)
The GOC General Operator Certificate course gives the professional seafarer competence in the operation of MF/HF and INMARSAT – C / Fleet 77 systems, as well as VHF. This STCW endorsed qualification is required for SOLAS-compliant vessels operating offshore. Accredited by the Irish Department of Transport, the course is held over 10 days.
Who this course is for: The professional seafarer on transoceanic and other long passages. This qualification gives them the authority to operate marine radio equipment on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) vessels in coastal and offshore waters.
Length of course: This course is held over 10 days (78 hours).
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctlyoperate Inmarsat C/Fleet 77 satellite and VHF/HF/MF radio equipment,including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are three written exams and two oral exams. Successful candidates will receive a General Operators Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites: Candidates must be over 18 years of age and have an adequate level of English to understand the course content and exam questions.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are encouraged to access our online simulator.
A comprehensive course manual will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with our classroom GMDSS simulator, as well as plenty of practical experience with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:
- Principles of the Maritime Mobile Service
- Principles of the Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
- Ship station including receivers, VHF radio installation, MF/HF,
- antennas, power supplies, survival craft radio equipment
- Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
- NBDP and Radio Telex systems
- Inmarsat systems
- GMDSS system and subsystems
- Inmarsat usage in GMDSS
- NAVTEX
- EPIRBs
- Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART)
- Distress, urgency and safety communications in GMDSS
- Distress, urgency and safety in communications using radiotelephony
- Search and Rescue operation (SAR)
- Obligatory procedures and practices
- General communications procedures
General Operators Certificate (GOC) Dublin
Thu, Jan 02 2025 - Sat, Jan 11 2025
Dublin Port
1195
If you do not see a scheduled date for the course that you wish to attend, please contact us indicating your interest and availability.
