GMD611 STCW Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

The primary purpose of GMDSS is to automate and improve emergency communications for the world's shipping industry.

This course is conducted by the International Maritime Institute of New Zealand (IMINZ) is part of NMIT. Since opening in 1976, the School has grown to become a leading provider of maritime and fisheries training.

Our staff are experienced seafarers with many years of combined experience between them. We offer a wide range of statutory and non-statutory courses for the fishing, marine tourism and marine transport industries, as well as customised training packages and consultancy services designed to suit the needs of national and international clients.

Course Aim
This course is intended to provide students with the ability to transmit and receive information using GMDSS subsystems and equipment and to fulfil the functional requirements of GMDSS. This course is aligned with the requirements of STCW-F 1995 appendix to Regulation 2, and STCW 1978 as amended Table A-IV/2.

Course Content

• Topic 1: Statutory framework of the Maritime Mobile Service
• Topic 2: Radio Regulations
• Topic 3: Search and Rescue Radio communications
• Topic 4: False Distress alerts
• Topic 5: Ship reporting systems
• Topic 6: IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases
• Topic 7: Hazards

Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply an understanding of the statutory framework of the Maritime Mobile Service and Radio Regulations
• Operate GMDSS equipment for search and rescue purposes including following procedures in the IAMSAR manuals.
• Manage the prevention of false distress messages
• Demonstrate an understanding of ship reporting systems and methods of transmission
• Demonstrate an understanding of radio medical services and methods of transmission
• Use the International Code of Signals and IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases
• Provide radio services for:
• Abandon ship
• Fire on board a ship
• Partial or full breakdown of radio equipment
• Manage the hazards associated to radio equipment including electrical and non-ionizing radiation hazards

Useful links

• Download a list of all Maritime short courses, including workshop dates(external link)
• Maritime New Zealand (MNZ)(external link)
• Frequently asked questions about Maritime short courses(external link)
• Browse all Maritime Short Courses
• Commercial Maritime Training(external link)