Regulatory basis
- SOLAS Chapter IV
- ITU Radio Regulations
- IMO Model Course 1.25 (operator)
- IAMSAR Manual Vol III
Safety, Security & Environment
GMDSS — Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
Short familiarization with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) under SOLAS Chapter IV — sea areas, equipment, distress alerting and safety communications. (For full operator certification, see the GMDSS General Operator Certificate.)
Target audience
- Officers seeking awareness of GMDSS
- Shore staff, surveyors, port operators
Prerequisites
- None
Learning objectives
What you'll be able to do
Describe GMDSS sea areas A1–A4 and corresponding equipment
Identify DSC, NAVTEX, EPIRB, SART, Inmarsat, and Cospas-Sarsat roles
Outline distress alert, relay, and acknowledgement procedures
Recognise carriage requirements and survey/maintenance arrangements
Course content
Modules & topics
Indicative module breakdown — actual delivery is adapted to the audience and operational context.
01
GMDSS framework
- SOLAS Ch IV
- Functional requirements
- Sea areas A1–A4
02
Equipment
- VHF/MF/HF DSC
- NAVTEX
- EPIRB 406 MHz
- SART/AIS-SART
- Inmarsat C/FleetBroadband
03
Procedures
- Distress, urgency, safety
- MSI broadcasts
- False alert cancellation
04
Compliance
- Carriage requirements
- Maintenance options
- Surveys
Assessment
Written test.
Certification
Course completion certificate.
References & further reading
Authoritative sources
This course aligns with international maritime conventions and IMO Model Courses. Use these references for detailed regulatory text.
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View course detailsInterested in this course?
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