ROCK PRACTICE SYLLABUS

Section A. General knowledge of radiocommunications in the Maritime Mobile Service.

A.1 General principles and basic characteristics of the maritime mobile service.

  • Definition and description of the VHF and AM maritime mobile service. Types of stations: ship stations, coastal stations, rescue coordination centers, ship movement service stations, radio medical centers. The maritime mobile service in Spain: maritime radio communications centers and rescue coordination centers.
  • Maritime mobile service identities. Identities of ship stations, shore stations, etc. Call signs, Maritime Mobile Service Identification Number (MMSI) of the different types of stations.
  • Basic concept of the GMDSS. Objective and basic structure of the system. Definition of maritime zones A1, A2, A3 and A4 according to the GMDSS and Royal Decree 1185/2006, and the relationship between them. Description, operation and components of the system in zone A1.
  • The Cospas-Sarsat system. Basic system concept. Local user terminals (LUTs).
  • Types of communications and their functions: distress, urgency and safety communications, search and rescue coordination communications, communications at the scene of the accident (SAR communications), bridge-to-bridge communications, maritime safety communications and routine communications.
  • Radiocommunications priority order. Interference. Captain’s authority. Secrecy of communications.
  • Date and time nomenclature.

Section B. Knowledge and ability to use the radio equipment of a ship.

B.1 Installation of VHF and HF radiocommunications. Practical use of VHF radiocommunications equipment. Equipment installation requirements depending on the navigation area and the type of vessel. Royal Decree 1185/2006.

  • Characteristics of radioelectric equipment for maritime zone A1 and A2.
  • VHF Radio Installation: Fixed VHF installation with radiotelephony. VHF installation with radiotelephony and LLLSD, programming and installation requirements. Antenna position and routine maintenance. Maximum power of ship station transmitters. Mandatory channels, and their frequencies, on which every VHF ship station must be able to transmit and receive. Use of the different controls of fixed VHF equipment. Dual watch system. Distress channel guard bands.
  • Portable VHF radios: main features, minimum operating channels. Use of the different equipment controls. Primary and secondary batteries. Equipment types: IEC 60529 IPX7 portable VHF radios, protection features. GMDSS portable VHF radios (VHF two-way portable VHF radios).
  • Radar transponders (SART and AIS-SART): operating principles, main characteristics, stowage, activation, deactivation, testing, routine maintenance.
  • NAVTEX receivers: operating principles, range (need to change transmitting station), basic characteristics (international and national reception frequencies), message types, testing and routine maintenance.
  • Automatic Identification System (AIS/SIA) equipment: operating principles, main characteristics (operating frequencies, data input), antenna positioning, routine maintenance. Advantages of use.
  • 406 MHz satellite emergency locator beacon: operating principles, main features, location functions, stowage, activation, deactivation, testing, and routine maintenance. Registration and installation. Hydrostatic release: operation and inspections.
  • 121.5 MHz Man Overboard Personal Beacons (PLBs) and AIS PLBs: Main Features. Inflatable Life Jacket/Personal Beacon Set.
  • Power sources for radio equipment: batteries and chargers, connections to different equipment, maintenance. Backup power sources.
  • Mobile telephony: Limitations and other considerations of mobile phones on board.
  • Basic knowledge of OC equipment.
  • Basic knowledge of the Inmarsat System.

B.2. Purpose and use of digital selective calling devices and techniques. Concept of digital selective calling. Operational characteristics. Advantages. Types of VHF and AM equipment with DSC. Types of calls: individual and all vessels. Distress button features and use. Sending the alert. Reviewing received messages. Monitoring and listening functions. GPS connection.

Section C. Operating procedures of the SMSSM and detailed practical use of the SMSSM subsystems and equipment.

C.1. Basic introduction to GMDSS procedures.

  • VHF Channels 6, 13, 16, 70. Frequencies, type of operation and assigned use. Obligation of continuous listening on VHF distress, emergency and safety frequencies.
  • OM equipment frequency 2.182 KHz and 2.187.5 KHz.

C.2. and C.3. Radiotelephone procedures with and without LLSD for distress, urgency and safety communications.

Procedure for distress communications.

  • Definition of distress alert, call, and message. Transmission channels. Responsible party. Cessation of other communications. Preparation for distress traffic. Guidelines for transmitting a distress alert. Other considerations.
  • Distress alert, call, and message: meaning and content. False distress alert and call. Distress signal and pronunciation. Procedures for transmitting a distress alert, a distress call, and a distress message. Guide for transmitting a distress alert using digital selective calling (DSC) equipment.
  • Relaying a distress alert or distress call by a ship station not in distress on VHF and MF: When should a ship station relay a distress alert from an ER? Distress relay signal, pronunciation. Procedure for relaying an alert or distress call or a distress call in general that is known.
  • Receipt and acknowledgment of distress alerts and distress calls on VHF and AM relayed by a coastal station or a rescue coordination centre: Priority of acknowledgment of distress alerts and calls by coastal stations.
  • Acknowledgment of receipt by a coastal station of a distress alert and a distress call.
  • Reception and acknowledgment of alerts or distress calls transmitted by a ship station on VHF and MF: Procedures for monitoring received alerts and distress calls and preparing for distress traffic.
  • Conditions for a vessel to acknowledge receipt of a distress call or alert. Procedure for receiving and acknowledging receipt. Table of actions to be taken by a vessel when it receives a distress call on VHF and MF.
  • Emergency traffic: preparation, monitoring, and coordination. Meaning and pronunciation of “silence mayday” and “silence fini”.
Procedure for emergency and security communications.
  • Communications considered urgent and security-related. Priority. Transmission channels. Responsible party. Cessation of other communications.
Emergency communications.
  • Concepts, content, and structure of emergency announcements, emergency calls, and urgent messages. Meaning. Urgency signals. Transmission channels. Procedures for transmitting, receiving, tracking, and canceling emergency communications.
  • Other related standards.
Security communications.
  • Concepts, content, and structure of security announcements, security calls, and security messages. Meaning. Security signals. Transmission channels. Procedures for transmitting, receiving, monitoring, and canceling security communications.
  • Other related standards.
Ship-to-ship communications relating to navigational safety.
  • Meaning. Frequency and assigned channel number. Procedure.
Testing of VHF and AM equipment with and without LLSD, used for distress and safety calls.
  • Limitations. Tests on distress, emergency and safety frequencies/channels.
Provisions and procedures for routine ship-to-ship and ship-to-coast calls.
  • Frequencies/channels. Calling method.

C.4. Protection of emergency frequencies.

  • Restrictions on emergency, urgent and security channels.

C.5. Maritime Safety Information (MSI) in the GMDSS.

  • Introduction to the Maritime Safety Information System (MSI). Purpose. Systems involved in the dissemination of information.

C.6. Procedure to cancel the unintentional transmission of false alarms.

  • Cancellation of an unintentionally sent distress alert or distress call. Procedure for cancelling an alert or distress call.

Section D. Operating procedures and regulation of radiotelephone communications.

D.1. Ability to exchange communications relating to the safety of human life at sea.

  • Operator certificate. General provisions applicable to this certificate. GMDSS operator certificate categories (non-SOLAS Convention). Ship Station License (SSL).

D.2. and D.3. Regulations, procedures and mandatory practices. Theoretical and practical knowledge of radiotelephone procedures.

  • Basic knowledge of the ITU International Radio Regulations, Royal Decree 1185/2006 on the Spanish Maritime Radio Regulations, and any other regulations related to this program. National regulations on the installation of radio equipment. International diagram of operating procedures for distress situations. Mandatory basic documents for maritime zone A1 in Spain. Knowledge of the Nomenclature of Coastal Stations and Special Service Stations, Nomenclature of Ship Stations and Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSI), Manual for the use of the Maritime Mobile Service and Maritime Mobile Satellite.
  • Functions within GMDSS. Other functions. Network of Spanish coastal stations and rescue coordination centers. Schedules and channels for continuous monitoring. Coastal stations of other countries.

Radiomedical Service

  • How to connect with the Spanish Radio-Medical Center (CRME). Guidelines for conducting a radio-medical consultation. Instructions for recording patient data and symptoms. Diagrams showing the location of symptoms or injuries.

Internships:

  • Each student will individually be able to transmit distress communications using VHF and MF equipment with DSC and transmit distress communications using VHF equipment without DSC following established procedures and standards.
  • Each student will individually be able to relay distress communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC following established procedures and standards.
  • Each student will individually be able to receive distress communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC and determine if the communication has been acknowledged by a coastal station or rescue center following established procedures and rules.
  • Each student will individually be able to know what measures to take to follow alerts, calls and distress traffic, when to give acknowledgment and give it using VHF and OM equipment with and without LLSD following established procedures and rules.
  • Each student individually will be able to cancel a distress alert sent on VHF and OM with DSC and a distress call on VHF and OM following the established procedures and rules.
  • Each student will be able to: transmit emergency communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC, following established procedures and standards; receive emergency communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC; and cancel transmitted emergency communications.
  • Each student will be able to: transmit security communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC, following established procedures and standards; receive security communications using VHF and MF equipment with and without DSC; and cancel transmitted security communications.
  • Each student individually will be able to: establish a navigation safety communication with another vessel following the established procedure and rules.
  • Each student individually will be able to: perform a test of a VHF and OM equipment with and without LSD.
  • Each student will individually be able to establish routine communications with other vessels following established procedures and rules.
  • Each student will be able to contact a Spanish CCR and CCS with coverage in their location via channel 16 and their assigned work channel, using the available publications. And via OM.
  • Components of a radio: power supply, transceiver, antenna unit. Interconnections between components and with other equipment (GPS). Technical considerations and installation/de-installation procedures. Familiarization with and operation of fixed VHF and AM radios with and without DSCs, and portable VHF radios. Control functions. Pre-departure checks. Tuning VHF frequencies for radiotelephony and DSCs.
  • Familiarization, activation, deactivation and checks of the 406 MHz satellite accident location radio beacon. Cancellation of an alarm issued by the unintentional activation of the radio beacon.

D.4. Use of the International Phonetic Alphabet. Most important phrases of IMO standard maritime communication.