top of page

SRC/VHF Radio

VHF DSC Short Range Certificate

 

Where?              Brightlingsea

How Long?          1 Day

How Old?            16

How Many?         1:6

How Much?         £110 (See note for exam fee below) 

 

The Exam fee is £70 and this is paid directly to the RYA here (Fee increasing to £76 from Jan 1st 2025). Once you've paid, please bring your receipt email/exam application form with you. If you are just taking the exam with us and not the course, a charge £30 on top of the RYA Exam Fee will be applied. 

 

A course for anyone who owns a fixed or handheld marine VHF radio. A radio is an important piece of safety equipment on board and it is vital to understand the correct procedures.

 

The course will be taught and examined using our modern Icom training radios. The exam will also include a short written test.

 

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.

 

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)

 

​

 

VHF DSC Radio Refresher

 

We have put together a refresher course as we know that the DSC function is sometimes not fully understood, or some people wish to have a bit more practice on training radios in an informal, helpful setting.

*As this is a refresher course, students must hold the VHF Short Range Certificate.

​

This is arranged on demand so please contact us for availability and prices. 

 

The course will be taught using our Icom training radios. There is no assessment, just helpful pointers and tuition. Students will have plenty of hands on experience with the training radios.

 

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.

 

Course topics include:

  • recapping basics of radio operation

  • the correct frequencies (channels) and procedures to be used

  • distress, urgency and all-ship DSC procedures

  • individual and group DSC calls

  • Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

  • Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB)

  • Search and Rescue (SART)

VHF SRC Radio Course Icom Radio
vmarinefunk_einbaugeraet_IC-M330GE_2.jpeg

Why Choose Us?

 

Experience-

We want you to have a great time and great fun learning with us. It needs to be professional, appropriate, worthwhile and fun for you and we work hard to provide this. 

​

Instructors- 

We only use a small group of skilled instructors that know their stuff, and want you to enjoy your course.

​

Kit-

We aim to provide really good quality, modern training kit- including our training boats!

​

Location-

We have a great training area. Surrounded by beautiful views, in a sheltered harbour on the renowned East Coast. The best of both worlds- shelter in one direction, and open water the other. It has all the facilities for a great course.  

All courses advertised on this page are run by us- Essex Marine Training Ltd, from our base in Brightlingsea, Essex (unless you have specifically arranged tuition with us for another location)

​

bottom of page