GMDSS General Operators Certificate (GOC)

Leading to a MCA STCW Radiotelephone General Operators Certificate

Provides students with the knowledge and practice of radio procedures, knowledge and practice of general radio regulations and basic maintenance as required by the GMDSS (GOC) syllabus. This module also includes the use of satcoms, EPIRB\\\\\\\'s and SART\\\\\\\'s.

An eight day certificated course includes an examination. Course run through Lairdside Maritime Centre.

Course Fee £895.00 (+VAT) plus Exam Fee.

You will need to have your GMDSS GOC endorsed by the MCA, and revalidated every 5 years thereafter.

The endorsement will generally be done when you are applying for a CoC.

To revalidate your certificate the MCA require the original GMDSS Certificate, notarised or attested copies of your Medical Fitness Certificate and entries from your Discharge Book showing evidence of 1 year sea service in the last 5 years.

Please send the documents to The Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Seafarer Training & Certification Branch, Spring Place, 105 Commercial Rd, SO15 1EG; they strongly suggest you send the documents by registered post.

GMDSS endorsements and revalidations can take up to 15 days to complete.

You must submit the original GMDSS certificate. Photocopies of other documents are acceptable, however they must have been attested as being true copies of the original by a solicitor, issuing administration, Notary Public, or by an authorised MCA official.

There is no fee payable for the endorsement of a GMDSS certificate or revalidation. The only fee will be for the secure return (courier) of your documents. If this is required the fee is currently £20. If no fee is received, the documents will be returned by Registered or International Registered mail. If a fee of £20 is received the documents will be returned by courier service. If this method is chosen, you will need to include a contact telephone number to enable the courier to make the delivery. Courier service cannot be made without a contact telephone number.

The MCA accept cheques, postal orders, bankers’ drafts and credit/debit cards. These should be made payable to the ‘Maritime and Coastguard Agency’. Cash cannot be accepted.