The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Long Range Certificate is a higher level certificate to the Short Range Certificate and allows you to operate on any marine MF/HF/VHF frequency/channel and Inmarsat satellite from on-board your yacht.
At YachtCom we keep the technical stuff to a minimum and concentrate on the practical use of equipment.
Knowledge of Morse code is not required.

The GMDSS Long Range Certificate is an ideal course for the off-shore and ocean sailor or blue water and commercial yachtsmen who are looking for long range communications.

Topics covered: -

• SSB communications
  • Frequencies and radio propagation
  • SSB installation
  • Controls of an SSB set
  • Practical use of equipment
    • Email & WeatherFAX
    • RadioTelephone, Intership & link calls
• VHF communications
  • Controls and channels
• Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
  • MF/HF/VHF DSC
  • Distress, Safety and Routine Calling
• Ships licence and radio regulations
• Voice procedures
  • Maydays, Pan-Pans, Intership calls etc.
• NAVTEX
  • Martine Safety Information (MSI) broadcasts
  • Coverage, stations and categories
• Emergency Positioning Indication Radio Beacons (EPIRB)
• Search & Rescue radar Transponders (SART)
• Satellite Communication
  • Satellite phone overview
    • Service providers
  • Inmarsat-C (International Marine Satellite)
    • NavAreas
    • Distress, safety & routine messaging
    • EGC SafetyNet

To cover all the above and give students time to revise for the exam, we have found that it is prudent to run this course over 3 days with the exam on the morning of the 4th day.

Note: At YachtCom we cover the complete LRC course including Inmarsat.

The agenda for each day is as follows

Day 1 -	Radio propagation, frequencies, SSB and VHF operation, GMDSS, Navtex, EPIRB, SART
Day 2 -	Digital Selective Calling (DSC), radio regulations, radio procedures, Inmarsat Satellite & EGC SafetyNET.
Day 3 -	Practical use of equipment including GMDSS procedures, radio telephone group exercise and mock exams.
Day 4 -	Revision, course conclusion and exam.

The LRC examination consists of four parts as follows:-

1. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) examination paper
2. Regulations Paper
3. Radiotelephone Communications(R/T) exercise simulating a Distress situation
4. Operation of Equipment

To pass the examination, you must pass each of the above parts.

The SOLAS exam consists of 11 questions. The pass mark is 75%.

The Regulations paper is a multiple choice type. . There are four answers provided for each of the 10 questions. To pass, candidates must correctly answer 6 questions.

The R/T exercise involves a number of candidates taking the role of ships at sea. The examiner takes the role of a ship in Distress. Candidates are required to use correct verbal and written procedures at appropriate times during the execution of the scenario. Pass mark is 75%.

During the Operation of equipment stage, the candidate is asked to perform a range of practical tasks on each piece of the equipment. The equipment includes MF/HF Transceiver, VHF Transceiver, DSC Controller, NAVTEX, SART, EPIRB and handheld VHF. The practical examination also covers more general topics on the testing of equipment, the care and maintenance of batteries and antenna installations. The pass mark is 70%.

Satellite Module
There is an additional (optional) Satellite Module which may be taken at the same time as the LRC, at no extra cost. Ask your course provider for details.
The format of the Satellite Module Exam is as follows:-

1. SOLAS paper. Five questions. Pass mark 60%
2. Radio Regulations & Inmarsat C Terminal Operation. Pass mark 70%

YachtCom GMDSS Long Range Certificate dates and price please click here

The YachtCom course is held near Southamption, click here for map.