Revised Ship Radiotelephone and Distress Training

The memorandum covers the revised curricula and accreditation instruments for three maritime communication and distress-related courses.
The courses covered are INMARSAT, SRROC (Ships Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Course), and GMDSS (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System).
The memorandum applies to training centers and instructors who offer the covered courses and seek compliance with the required curricula and accreditation instruments.
The memo governs how syllabi must be “followed and presented” into three modules for the covered courses.

The memorandum requires the syllabi formulated and approved in 1989 to be followed.
The courses must be presented into three modules.
Module I is the Satellite Communication (INMARSAT) Course with 40 hours.
Module II is the Ships Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Course (SRROC) with 40 hours.
Module III is the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) with 40 hours.

The memorandum adopts, in addition to the existing SRROC syllabus, signalling by Morse Code based from Module 12, Communication, IMO Model Course 7.03.
The Morse Code signalling component must cover one hour.
The memorandum requires Search and Rescue (SAR) exercises to be included for an additional three hours.
The training/learning objectives for Signalling by Morse Code require trainees to:
- Identify Morse Code for the alphabet.
- Send and receive Morse signals by flashing light at a rate of 15 characters per minute.
- List the parts of a signal made by flashing as the call.
- Correctly use the aerasea signal when signalling or receiving.
- Explain the use of the waiting signal AS.
- Correctly use the repetition signals, AA, AB, WA, WB.
- Correctly use the repeat signal.
- Demonstrate the use of procedure signals C, N, and RQ and state that they cannot be used with single-letter signals.
- List the single-flag signal which may be sounded only in compliance with the requirements of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
- State the distress signal when made by flashing light.

Completion of the Satellite Communication and Ships Restricted Radiotelephone Operator courses is required as a pre-requisite for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety Course (GMDSS).

The memorandum provides for attachment of the copies of the accreditation instruments for the covered courses.
Training centers and instructors must use the attached accreditation instruments for compliance and guidance in administering the courses.