The General Operators Certificate (GOC) is the GMDSS highest level radio operator qualification and is suitable for professional mariners including merchant navy deck officers, offshore radio operators serving on mobile platforms, and commercial yacht masters.
Holders of the GMDSS GOC certificate are certified to operate all licensed marine radio equipment, including radiotelephony, digital selective calling, radio telex and satellite mobile earth stations. The certificate permits the holder to operate the radio installation on GMDSS compliant/compulsorily equipped vessels operating in any of the GMDSS sea areas (A1-A4).
Every person in charge of/or performing radio duties on a ship that is required to participate in the GMDSS and to hold an appropriate certificate related to the GMDSS, which satisfies the provisions of the Radio Regulations of the International Telecommunication Union as well as STCW Ch. IV/the standard of competence specified in section A-IV/2 of the STCW Code, and SOLAS Ch. IV.
The candidate will gain detailed practical knowledge of the equipment of ship stations including digital selective calling (DSC), the principles of telex over radio, and to Inmarsat systems. Operational procedures and practices and the exchange of communications relevant to the safety of life at sea are also covered.
