VHF

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Dublin
2024-04-26 - 2024-04-27 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: Anyone who operates a recreational craft, passenger boat or fishing boat in coastal or inland waterways.
Length of course: This course is usually held over one evening, Friday, (3.5 hrs.) and one day, Saturday, (including exam time – approx. 8 hrs.). Though we can also run the course mid-week over two days.
Objective: To gain the knowledge and confidence to successfully operate VHF radio including sending and receiving distress communications.
Assessment: There are two written exams and two oral exam. Successful candidates will receive a Short Range Radio Certificate issued by the Department of Transport and recognized worldwide.
Prerequisites: While it is helpful to have previous knowledge of marine radio communications, it is not obligatory.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are given course notes and are encouraged to access our online simulator.
Course notes will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with VHF radios, as well as with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:

Types of Communications in the Maritime Mobile Service
Types of Stations in the Maritime Mobile Service
Radio Frequencies and ChannelsFunctionality of Ship Station Equipment
Basic controls and usage of VHF radio
VHF antennas Purpose and use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Search and Rescue Procedures (SAR)
Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications in GMDSS
Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
Alerting and Location Signals
Operational procedures and regulations for VHF Communications in regards to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Dublin
2024-05-28 - 2024-05-29, 2024-06-28 - 2024-06-29, 2024-11-01 - 2024-11-02, 2025-02-21 - 2025-02-22 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: Anyone who operates a recreational craft, passenger boat or fishing boat in coastal or inland waterways.
Length of course: This course is usually held over one evening, Friday, (3.5 hrs.) and one day, Saturday, (including exam time – approx. 8 hrs.). Though we can also run the course mid-week over two days.
Objective: To gain the knowledge and confidence to successfully operate VHF radio including sending and receiving distress communications.
Assessment: There are two written exams and two oral exam. Successful candidates will receive a Short Range Radio Certificate issued by the Department of Transport and recognized worldwide.
Prerequisites: While it is helpful to have previous knowledge of marine radio communications, it is not obligatory.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are given course notes and are encouraged to access our online simulator.
Course notes will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with VHF radios, as well as with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:

Types of Communications in the Maritime Mobile Service
Types of Stations in the Maritime Mobile Service
Radio Frequencies and Channels
Functionality of Ship Station Equipment
Basic controls and usage of VHF radio
VHF antennas Purpose and use of Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Search and Rescue Procedures (SAR)
Distress, Urgency and Safety Communications in GMDSS
Maritime Safety Information (MSI)
Alerting and Location Signals
Operational procedures and regulations for VHF Communications in regards to Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Malahide
2024-09-06 - 2024-09-07 | Malahide

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Clare
2024-09-13 - 2024-09-14, 2025-01-31 - 2025-02-01, 2025-04-18 - 2025-04-19 | Clare

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Carlingford
2024-10-04 - 2024-10-05, 2025-09-12 - 2025-09-13 | Carlingford, Louth, Ireland

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Portumna
2024-10-19 - 2024-10-20 | Portumna

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Sligo
2024-11-15 - 2024-11-16 | Sligo

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Limerick
2024-11-22 - 2024-11-23 | Limerick, Ireland

General Operators Certificate (GOC) Dublin
2025-01-08 - 2025-01-17 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: The professional seafarer on transoceanic and other long passages. This qualification gives them the authority to operate marine radio equipment on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) vessels in coastal and offshore waters.
Length of course: This course is held over 10 days (78 hours).
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctly operate Inmarsat C/Fleet 77 satellite and VHF/HF/MF radio equipment,including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are three written exams and two oral exams. Successful candidates will receive a General Operators Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites: Candidates must be over 18 years of age and have an adequate level of English to understand the course content and exam questions.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are encouraged to access our online tutor.
A comprehensive course manual will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with our classroom GMDSS simulator, as well as plenty of practical experience with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:

Principles of the Maritime Mobile Service
Principles of the Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
Ship station including receivers, VHF radio installation, MF/HF,
antennas, power supplies, survival craft radio equipment
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
NBDP and Radio Telex systems
Inmarsat systems
GMDSS system and subsystems
Inmarsat usage in GMDSS
NAVTEX
EPIRBs
Search and Rescue Radar Transponder (SART)
Distress, urgency and safety communications in GMDSS
Distress, urgency and safety in communications using radiotelephony
Search and Rescue operation (SAR)
Obligatory procedures and practices
General communications procedures

Restricted Operators Certificate (ROC) Dublin
2025-01-14 - 2025-01-17 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: The professional seafarer, giving them the authority to operate VHF radio equipment on Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) vessels in coastal waters.
Length of course: This course is usually held over four consecutive days, including exam time.
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctly operate a VHF radio installation, including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are three written exams and two oral exams. Successful candidates will receive a Restricted Operators Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites: Candidates must be over 18 years of age and have an adequate level of English to understand the course content and exam questions.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are encouraged to access our online simulator.
A comprehensive course manual will be given in-class and each student will have hands-on practice with a VHF radio simulator as well as with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:

Types of communications in Maritime Mobile Service
Types of stations
Radio frequencies
VHF radio installation
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
NAVTEX
EPIRBs
Search and Rescue Transponder (SART)
Distress, urgency, and safety procedures in GMDSS
Search and Rescue operation (SAR)
Obligatory procedures and practices – general communications

Long Range Certificate (LRC) - Dublin
2025-01-14 - 2025-01-17 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: Anyone that operates a radio on a recreational craft, passenger boat or fishing vessel more than 30 miles from the coast.
Every vessel that is equipped with MF/HF radio or a GMDSS-compliant satellite transceiver must carry at least one marine radio operator with this minimum qualification.
Length of course: This course is held over 4 days.
Objective: To gain the skills and knowledge to confidently and correctly operate Inmarsat C/Fleet 77 satellite and VHF/HF/MF radio equipment, including Digital Selective Callings (DSC), EPIRB, SART, and NAVTEX.
Assessment: There are two written exams and two oral exams.
Successful candidates will receive a Long Range Certificate issued by the Irish Department of Transport and recognised worldwide.
Prerequisites:
Although not essential, it is preferred that candidates already hold a SRC.
Format of the course: Prior to the course, candidates are given course notes and are encouraged to access our online simulator. During the class, each student will have hands-on practice with our classroom GMDSS simulator, as well as plenty of practical experience with EPIRBs, SARTs, and NAVTEX.
Syllabus:

Types of communications
Types of stations
Radio frequencies
Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
GMDSS structure
Search and Rescue (SAR)
Maritime Safety Information (MSI), NAVTEX, Inmarsat C
VHF radio installation
MF/HF radio installation
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
Antennas, interfacing and power sources
Distress, urgency, safety communications
Protection of distress frequencies
Procedures/practical operation of Maritime Mobile Satellite Service
Alerting, communication and locating signals
Radiotelephony procedures – Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
Regulations for VHF/MF/HF communications

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Foynes, Co Limerick
2025-01-24 - 2025-01-25 | Limerick

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Clare
2025-02-19 - 2025-02-20 | Kilrush, Clare, Ireland

Long Range Certificate (LRC) - Clare
2025-03-03 - 2025-03-06 | Kilrush, Clare, Ireland

RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore - Lough Derg
2025-03-14 - 2025-04-27 | Nenagh, Ireland
Who this course is for: Experienced and up-coming skippers.
Length of course: The course is taught over 45 hours. It will be covered over two weekends and a series of one night per week classroom sessions.
Objective: To reach the standard required for the Yachtmaster Coastal and Yachtmaster Offshore practical exams.
Assessment: There are three exam papers.
Prerequisites: Significant previous sailing or boating experience is expected. Some mathematical ability would be useful.
Format of the course: The course allows some time for revision of the basics and then moves on to advanced navigation techniques.
Syllabus:

Position fixing
Course shaping and plotting
Passage planning
Tidal knowledge
Use of almanacs and admiralty publications
Electronic position finding equipment and chartplotters
Taking and interpreting weather forecasts
Plotting weather systems
Weather predictions using a barometer and by observation
Collision regulations
Customs and excise regulations for cruising abroad.

This course will be classroom based (not online) on the following weekends:
Fri 14 evening, Sat 15 and Sun 16 March 2025, and
Fri 25 evening, Sat 26 and Sun 27 April 2025
In addition, there will be a number of evening classroom-based sessions on Tuesday evenings in March and April.

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Galway
2025-03-28 - 2025-03-29, 2025-05-09 - 2025-05-10 | Galway

Irish Sailing Coastal Navigation for Small Boats - Dublin
2025-07-11 - 2025-07-13 | Dublin Port
Who this course is for: Anyone who operates a recreational craft in coastal or inland waterways.
Length of course: This course is usually held over one evening, Friday, (3.5 hrs.), one full day, Saturday, (approx. 8 hrs.) and, depending on the number of students and the rate of progress, Sunday morning as well.
Objective: To learn how to safely navigate a boat by day and by night in coastal waters with which the participant is familiar.
Assessment: There are no exams. Participants who demonstrate an understanding of the principles taught during the course will receive an Irish Sailing certificate.
Prerequisites: Some previous sailing or boating experience is expected.
Format of the course: Comprehensive course notes are provided in advance. During the course candidates are led through exercises with paper charts and chartplotters. There is a strong focus on passage planning.
Syllabus:

Weather
Navigation
Passage planning
Coastal knowledge
Rules of the Road
Safety

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Mayo
2025-08-08 - 2025-08-09 | Mayo, Mayo, Ireland

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Lough Derg
2025-10-04 - 2025-10-05 | Nenagh, Ireland

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Dublin (Port)
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-25 | Dublin, Ireland

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Co Limerick
2025-10-31 - 2025-11-01 | Limerick, Ireland

Short Range Certificate for VHF operators (SRC) Co Sligo
2025-11-21 - 2025-11-22 | Sligo, Ireland

Celestial Navigation, Co Clare
2026-01-10 - 2026-01-11 | Clare
Who this course is for: Anyone interested in traditional navigation methods, including offshore seafarers who want a back up if their electronic navigation systems fail.
Length of course: The course is taught over 15 hours. It can be covered over a weekend; Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning.
Objective: To become familiar with traditional navigation methods and how to make use of them in a digital age.
Assessment: There is no exam. The course does not have external accreditation.
Prerequisites: It helps if you have some mathematical skills and know the basics of navigation at sea.
Format of the course: The course introduces celestial navigation methods, including use of the sextant and an outline of the traditional approach to calculations. It then proceeds to show how calculations can be simplified using easy-to-use robust software that can be used at sea, even when the vessel’s electronic navigation and communications systems have failed.
Syllabus:

Introduction

Basic Navigation Geometry

Parallels of Latitude

Meridians of Longitude and Hour Angles

Heavenly Bodies – the sun, moon, planets and stars.

The Sextant and Taking a Sight

Offsets and Corrections

Plotting and Intercepts

Calculations – the Hard Way

Calculations – the Sensible Way using stand-alone Software
