Do you love kayaking, yachting, or powerboating and want to get ready to get on the water safely?

One of the most useful safety tools while being on the water is a VHF radio.

To operate a VHF or Single Side Band radio, you must have an ROC-M certificate (Restricted Operator’s Certificate – Maritime) – it’s the law.

This course tests your ROC-M knowledge covering:

• Maritime radio systems

• Emergency radio procedures

• Every day maritime radio operating techniques

• Advanced maritime radio operations and applications

• Channel frequencies

• Phonetic alphabet

• Procedural words and phrases

• Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

• Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)

  
  

The ROC-M certificate with DSC Endorsement certifies the student to operate VHF and MF/HF (single side band) radios and is valid for life.

This course is based on the Maritime Radio Course book as a supplement to the authorized courses.

Please note: You do NOT need a radio in order to take the exam. We actually recommend holding off buying a radio (if you don’t already have one) until after the course as you will have a better sense of what radio is right for you.

The Coast Guard encourages boaters to use a VHF-FM radio as their primary means of distress calling. VHF is superior to cell phones in reaching help for boating emergencies. When a Mayday is sent out via a VHF radio it is a broadcast to Coast Guard radio stations as well as any VHF-equipped boat within listening range. Nearby boaters can often offer immediate assistance long before a Coast Guard vessel or towing service can arrive.

If there is any chance you may enter U.S. waters, you should have a ship station licence. International regulations state that without a reciprocal agreement between countries, you must have a licence from your home country when venturing outside of your home waters.