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GMDSS General Operator Certificate (GOC)

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WHO REQUIRES A GMDSS GOC GENERAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE ?

The GMDSS GOC General Operator Certificate from AMERC is required by officers on SOLAS vessels, yachts, workboats and fishing vessels over 24m, cargo ships over 300 tonnes and passenger vessels of any size. More specifically;

  • Officers and Masters on all SOLAS (foreign going) vessels over 24m
  • Master 200, 500 & 3000  candidates (yacht & workboat)
  • OOW and/or Chief Mate candidates (yacht & merchant)
  • Some fishing COC candidates
  • Radio Operators/Medics on board offshore “jack up” rigs
  • Royal Navy Officers

GMDSS GOC General Operator Certificate from AMERC

GMDSS GOC GENERAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE  GOC OVERVIEW:

The STCW GOC is the highest level marine radio qualification within the GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress & Safety System). GOC Certificate of Competence holders can operate any marine radio equipment on any vessel anywhere on the planet. The certificate complies with the STCW code.

HOW LONG DOES THE GMDSS GOC COURSE TAKE?

The GOC course is 8 days including the AMERC exam. Usually candidates will take their exam on day 8. Occasionally some candidates may take their exam on day 9. WE run the course over 8 consecutive days (ie no weekend off) so you have the elast time away from your ship or yacht.

WHAT ARE THE GMDSS GENERAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE PRE REQUISITES?

  • Candidates must be fluent in the English language
  • Minimum age 18
  • Have learnt the Phonetic Alphabet before your course
  • Bring 4 passport photos

WHAT IS COVERED ON THE GMDSS GOC COURSE?

The GOC course is accredited by AMERC and the MCA and includes all aspects of GMDSS. It will prepare you for the final exam. The exam has three components

  • Written Paper – Radio Procedures and Regulations
  • Voice Exercise – Simulated Distress Communications
  • Practical Exam – Use of GMDSS Equipment

Icom-GM800, used on the GMDSS GOC General Operator Certificate Course from AMERC

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE GMDSS GENERAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE   COURSE?

  • Use of our Class A VHF, MF, HF Radios
  • Use of our Transas 5000 GMDSS simulators
  • Use of our live Navtex sets and other simulators
  • 7.5 days of training and 0.5 day exam
  • GMDSS Course Notes
  • Free Tea and Coffee
  • Free (on street) parking
  • GOC Course Completion Certificate

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GMDSS GOC COURSE?

The GOC certificate can be STCW endorsed by the MCA for those who require a Certificate of Competence to operate radio equipment onboard  “GMDSS compulsory fit” vessels operating in GMDSS Sea areas (A1 – A4). This is done by completing the necessary form on the last day of your course.

WHAT RATIO IS THE GMDSS GENERAL OPERATOR CERTIFICATE  (GOC) COURSE TAUGHT TO:

AMERC, MNTB and MCA set a maximum a ratio of 12 students to 1 instructor. We improve on that by limiting our courses to a maximum of 10 students, however we run the course with as few as 3 students, (or even 1:1 and 2:1 for bespoke courses).

AMERC, the MNTB and MCA insist that GOC Training centres catering for up to eight students have at least one SSB, one Class A VHF, one Sat-C , one Fleet Broadband  and one Navtex for use throughout their course. We smash those equipment ratios. See below to view the range of GMDSS equipment in our training room.

CHIEFTAIN TRAINING GMDSS TRAINING EQUIPMENT:

Our GMDSS suite relies on our 18 primary live sets which are all, Icom (Class A and D VHF and Class A MF/HF). While we are fans of ICOM we recognise that not everyone is equipped with this brand so our GMDSS suite is also equipped with a selection of Simrad, Sailor, Silva, ICS, Lokata, Nasa, McMurdo, and Jotron equipment.

Equipment

Type

Sets

 SRC Course LRC Course ROC Course GOC Course

SSB (HF & MF)
Icom GM800 SSB (MF & HF) Live 2 ✅ ✅
Sailor 6301 SSB (MF & HF) PC Simulator 4 ✅

CLASS A VHF
Icom GM600 Class A VHF Live 5 ✅ ✅ ✅
Sailor 6222 Class A VHF PC Simulator 4 ✅ ✅

CLASS D VHF
Icom M423GE VHF Live 8 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Icom M323 VHF Live 6 ✅
Silva S10 VHF Live 1 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Standard Horizon VHF PC Simulator 4 ✅

SATELLITE COMMS
Sailor 250 Inmarsat Fleet Broadband PC Simulator 4 ✅
Sailor 6110 Inmarsat Sat-C PC Simulator 4 ✅

NAVTEX
ICS Nav 4 Navtex Live 1 ✅
ICS Nav 5 Navtex Live 4 ✅ ✅ ✅
Lokata 1 Navtex Live 2 ✅
Nasa Navtex Target Live 4 ✅ ✅
ProSailor 6004 Navtex PC Simulator 4 ✅

EPIRBs
Various EPIRBS Dummy 8 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
McMurdo 406 PC Simulator 4 ✅
Various PLBs Dummy 4 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

SARTS
Radar SART Live 1 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Radar SART Dummy 4 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
McMurdo S4 Radar SART PC Simulator 4 ✅
Jotron AIS SART PC Simulator 4 ✅
AIS SART Dummy 2 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅

HAND HELD VHFs
H/H GMDSS VHF Dummy 8 ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅
Jotron Tron Air H/HVHF PC Simulator 4 ✅
Sailor SP3920 H/H VHF PC Simulator 4 ✅

HOW DO I APPLY FOR A STCW ENDORSEMENT TO MY GMDSS CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCE

As radio personnel serving on a UK registered vessel you must apply to the Maritime Coastguard Agency to get your original global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) certificate endorsed so it meets the standards for training, certification and watch keeping (STCW) requirements. This applies to general operators certificates (GOC) and restricted operators certificates (ROC).

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