RYA VHF Short Range Radio Operators Course (DSC)

A Marine VHF radio on board a boat as well as being useful for routine communication, is an essential piece of safety equipment, however to legally have one on board, there has to be at least one person with the VHF SRC Operators Certificate. Successful completion of this one day RYA VHF SRC Radio Course which can also be completed online, will provide you with this certificate and will also allow you to supervise untrained people in its use on board your vessel.

During the course where you will use real marine VHF radios rather than computer simulators you will be taught:

•  Hands on operation of marine VHF/DSC (digital selective calling) equipment
•  The phonetic alphabet
•  Basic radio language
•  Use of correct channels
•  Making calls to other stations
•  Sending a distress alert and distress Mayday message
•  Sending an urgency alert and Pan Pan message
•  Sending a safety alert and Securité message
•  Making routine alerts and calls
•  Automatic Transmitter Identification System – ATIS
•  Radio Rules and regulations

The DSC element of the radio falls within the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and as such you will also be taught about other equipment which falls within this scheme such as Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs).

In addition to the theory, by the end of the day you will have practiced making mayday calls, learnt about Pan Pan and securite calls as well as general ship to shore communications using both the voice and DSC elements of the radio.

To view a full RYA VHF / SRC Radio Course syllabus please click on the tab above.

Throughout the course each student will be allocated a real VHF DSC radio to practice radio procedures in the classroom environment.

The VHF Radio Course is completed over one day from 8.30am to approximately 7.30pm and there will be both a practical assessment on the use of the VHF DSC Radio and a written assessment after the training which will be conducted by an external assessor. Prior to attending you will need to complete 3 hours self study. On booking the course you will be issued with a pack including the RYA Handbook and instructions on what areas you need to learn before the course.

On successful completion of the VHF SRC Radio course we will forward your application form to the RYA together with your £70 examination fee, who will then forward your certificate to you.

We realise that not everyone wants to attend a classroom based course so we also offer the online RYA VHF SRC Radio Course. For more information please click here

To be awarded the VHF Short Range Certificate students must be able to:

1. Distress Situations
   • Define a distress situation
   • Initiate a DSC Distress Alert with position and time input manually or automatically
   • Send a Mayday call and message by voice
   • Respond appropriately to a DSC distress alert and to a Mayday call and message including relay of a distress message.
   • Know how to deploy an EPIRB and a SART
2. Urgency Situations
   • Define an urgency situation
   • Initiate a DSC urgency alert
   • send a Pan Pan call and message by voice
   • Respond appropriately to an urgency message
3. Safety Situations
   • Identify a situation in which a safety message is appropriate
   • Input a DSC safety alert
   • Send a safety message by voice
   • Receive Maritime Safety Information by NAVTEX
4. Routine Communication
   • Initiate a DSC routine alert
   • Establish communication and exchange messages with other stations by voice on appropriate channels
   • Test the radiotelephone by means of an appropriate test call
   • Initiate a DSC self test
   • Enter a DSC group and individual MMSI
   • Maintain an appropriate listening watch on DSC and voice channels
   • Use the International Phonetic Alphabet

RYA VHF SRC Marine Radio Course - FAQ’s

These are a few of the questions we get asked by people booking on the RYA VHF SRC Radio course. If you have any further queries or are unsure whether this is the course for you please call us on 01243 432485 and we will be only too happy to chat to you.

Do I need to complete the RYA VHF SRC Radio Course?

If you have a VHF radio with or without DSC (including a handheld VHF Radio) on board your boat or you are going to charter a boat with a radio on board then one person on board needs to be trained by completing the one day VHF SRC Radio Course to obtain their operators certificate.

In addition prior to obtaining the RYA Coastal Skipper practical, RYA MCA Yachtmaster Coastal or the RYA MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of competence you must have the RYA VHF SRC Operators certificate in addition to a valid RYA First Aid Certificate.

Do I need to do any preparation before the VHF Radio Course?

The answer to this is yes. A pack will be sent out to you which includes a copy of the RYA VHF Handbook and you will be required to complete at least 3 hours of self study before attending. Details of what you need to learn will be provided on booking the course.

Is there an exam?
There will be both a short written paper and a formal practical assessment carried out by an external assessor.

What type of person does this course?

We have a wide range of people from varying backgrounds on the VHF SRC Radio Course, including dinghy sailors, sea kayakers, powerboaters and yachties. Some people have their own boats, some crew on other peoples or want to charter.

What do I need to bring with me to the course?

You will need to bring a passport sized photograph together with £60 RYA fee and a notepad

What time does the course start and finish?
The course will start at 8.30am and finish at about 7.30pm to allow time for the practical assessments

What is included in the course fee?
The price includes all course materials to be able to complete the course including the RYA VHF Handbook. There is an additional £70 RYA certificate fee due on completion of the course

Where is the course held?

It will be held at one of our classroom in Emsworth Yacht Harbour, Thorney Road, Emsworth, Hants PO10 8BP

What qualifications or experience do I need to complete the RYA VHF SRC Radio Course?

You do not need to have any qualifications or experience to be able to complete this course, though you do need to do at least 3 hours structured preparation before attending.

What qualification will I get once I have completed the course?

On successful completion of the course your application will be sent away to the RYA who will issue you with the RYA VHF SRC Operators certificate

How many people will there be on the course?

We have a maximum of 6 people on a course.

Do I get to use a Real radio?

Yes, each student gets to use a real Standard Horizon VHF Radio (it is depowered so wont transmit outside the classroom). We aim to make the course as realistic as possible so we don’t use computer simulators.

Is there a minimum age to be able to complete the RYA VHF Radio Course?

You need to be 12 or over to complete the course and be issued with a certificate of competence but you will not be able to complete the exams and so will not be able to receive the full authority to operate until you are 16.

How do I book?

Just click on the book now button