Which GMDSS (FCC, or both FCC and USCG) is required for a 1600 ton license?
I hear some people claim that the two week USCG approved courses are only required for upper level licenses, and that the FCC GMDSS license is all that is required for a 1600 ton license. I hear other people claim that the two week USCG course is required for any license over 300 tons. It appears to me that both the FCC and USCG GMDSS are required for a 1600 ton license.
Which is it? Just the FCC license? Or both the FCC license and the two week USCG approved course?
Which schools are recommended for the GDMSS course, in terms of quality of facilities and instruction; frequently scheduled courses with seats usually available; cost, and being in a pleasant place to live for two weeks while in school?
The GMDSS license is issued by the FCC. I took the two week USCG approved class at Young Memorial in Morgan City, LA, and at the end the FCC test was taken as part of the class.
Young Memorial has a very reasonable price for the class, but Morgan City is not exactly an exotic location.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;68872]Which GMDSS (FCC, or both FCC and USCG) is required for a 1600 ton license?
I hear some people claim that the two week USCG approved courses are only required for upper level licenses, and that the FCC GMDSS license is all that is required for a 1600 ton license. I hear other people claim that the two week USCG course is required for any license over 300 tons. It appears to me that both the FCC and USCG GMDSS are required for a 1600 ton license.
Which is it? Just the FCC license? Or both the FCC license and the two week USCG approved course?
Which schools are recommended for the GDMSS course, in terms of quality of facilities and instruction; frequently scheduled courses with seats usually available; cost, and being in a pleasant place to live for two weeks while in school?[/QUOTE]
You have to take the 2 week course, and forget quality of instruction. Take whatever school is cheaper and more convenient. Better you call around based on listed approved schools on NMC’s website. Just make sure the FCC license comes as part of the course.
While yes you can take the FCC exam, the CG still wants you’re butt in that class for 2 weeks for the endorsement on your license and that’s what matter.
Yes you can have a 1600 ton license with out GMDSS or ARPA for that matter. The CFR’s state that vessel over 300 GRT have to have both, so you can’t be an officer on a boat over 300 GRT with out those endorsements on your license.
That’s pretty much what I suspected. Its amazing how little so many so called “experts” at the schools, and elsewhere, seem to understand about license requirements. About half of what they tell me turns out to be BS.
I am already studying for the FCC GMDSS exam on my own. I studied the Mercomms book, and I’m using the Mariner Advancement practice exams. I’m taking the FCC exam this week. I should have the FCC GDMSS license in a couple weeks.
There is quite a bit of trivia to memorize (things that in practice would be just looked up, when and if they are ever needed, in manuals or phone books), but there is no way that it should taken an entire two weeks of class just to get ready for the FCC test. What a crock.
I guess I should look for a GDMSS school in someplace nice (maybe Honolulu) that isn’t too fussy about attendance.
I took it at Del Gado which is a 10 day course that goes straight through the weekend. You do take the FCC exam there.
That class was the worst in my opinion. I could have been through the course in 4 days if they on my own, but CG says you have to be in the class for 80 hrs.
Jemplayer has it exactly right. It’s a SOLAS thing. I would encourage you not to test on your own. If you are working on a SOLAS class boat you will study for the test, sit for the exam and get the license. The license on it’s own will mean nothing to the company you work for, the USCG will send you a deficiency letter and the school you end up having to go to anyway will just make have to take the same exam over again at the end of the course for a license you already have! Don’t ask me how I know this. So don’t waste your money or time testing on your own unless you will be on a non-SOLAS class vessel. Good luck.
I had to sign up with iNARTE to take the FCC Element 1 exam, and they said it was no extra charge to take Element 7 (GMDSS) at the same time. So I said ok. It isn’t costing me anything extra and I’ve already spent a few evenings learning the material, so I might as well take it now. I’ll just work on something else while I sit through the silly two week class.
[QUOTE=Jemplayer;68880]…The CFR’s state that vessel over 300 GRT have to have both, so you can’t be an officer on a boat over 300 GRT with out those endorsements on your license.[/QUOTE]
What’s your source for this? I’m not aware of any such requirement.
GMDSS (and ARPA) are STCW requirements. You do not need the endorsement if you are working where STCW is not required. If STCW is required, and you are on a vessel with GMDSS and/or ARPA, you need the endorsement(s). Note that even if STCW is not required, if the vessel has GMDSS you may still need the FCC license.
The difference between the FCC-only course and the 2-week STCW course is that the FCC doesn’t require you to ever touch the equipment or demonstrate you can use it. It’s prep for a multiple choice test. Because of this, the FCC accepts all USCG approved courses, but not the converse.
Yopu can get any license without STCW, and tyou can STCW for any tonnage without GMDSS or ARPA. GMDSS is a “positive” endorsement meaning you have to have the specific and separate endorsement for GMDSS to be authorized for it, ARPA is a “negative” endorsement meaning that if you are NOT qualified for ARPA you will have restriction on your endorsement, but if you are qualified, it will not mention ARPA.
Frankly, I think that the USCG and the FCC ought to get their heads together on what is necessary for authorization as a GMDSS licensed operator, and both require exactly the same thing for a license. Since radio is the FCC’s area of responsibility, probably the FCC should exclusively handle it.
I agree that one should have to prove that they are capable of actually operating the equipment to get the FCC license. However, there is a big difference between demonstrating the required level of competency, and attending some half-ass course with 10 year old equipment and five year old books at some podunk community college for TWO WHOLE WEEKS. Almost everyone with actual seatime knows how to operate a VHF, and probably also knows how to operate a SSB. If they don’t, then their seatime is of very little value. INMARSAT is probably the only part of GMDSS that anyone would need to learn. Most people seeking GMDSS authority will already have experience using INMARSAT. I don’t see why it should take more than one day to demonstrate competency with the equipment — about the same as a radar renewal. Think about it, an original unlimited radar course only takes 5 days. An ARPA class only takes even less. How can it possibly take 10 days to demonstrate the ability to use a computer terminal/telephone and a couple of radios?
A two week course that covered Radar Observer, ARPA, and GMDSS would be reasonable.
The time and money being wasted on overly long GMDSS courses could be better spent acquiring other competencies that would make a much greater contribution to seamanship and safety.
80 hours was too long…More hands-on and less theory would be good.
Satellite Systems
Terrestrial Communications
Transmission and Reception of Distress
Alerts and Messages
Maritime Safety Information
INMARSAT A/B/C
MF/HF Transceivers (Single Side Band)
MF/HF NBDP – Narrow Band Direct Printing Modems
MF/HF DSC – Digital Selective Calling Controllers
VHF Radio Telephones
VHF DSC - Digital Selective Calling Controllers
NAVTEX Receivers
406 mHz EPIRBS – Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacons
Search & Rescue Transponders (SARTS) Survival Craft Transceivers
Reserve Sources of Energy with Integrated Chargers
Antenna Systems (terrestrial and satellite)
Everyone is different some complain about more hands on with equipment some want more time with theory FCC does need to change something around some of the codes have changed 600 questions to study from
spend a lot of time explaining dialing procedures Inmarsat A,B,C all preparing them for the FCC Exam.
I’m pretty sure you can still serve on a vessel without the license or endorsement as long as there are enough individuals onboard with the license and endorsement to cover the vessel.
