Course Overview
This course covers maritime mobile and satellite services. Students will learn the operation and regulatory requirements of the basic equipment in a ship station and will apply their knowledge to the Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS). This includes making distress, urgency, and safety calls following safety communications procedures. In addition, students will learn the procedures for general communications and how to use the Fleet Broadband and Iridium A3 satellite communications equipment in simulated real-world scenarios.
Prerequisite(s)
- Students must be 18 years of age or older. Familiarity with basic computer keyboarding skills.
Credits
4.5
Domestic fees
$1,168.06
International fees are typically 3.25 times the domestic tuition. Exact cost will be calculated upon completion of registration.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:
- Explain the basic features of the Maritime Mobile and Mobile Satellite Service.
- State the operational regulatory requirements related to the GMDSS equipment.
- Demonstrate how to use a ship’s station basic GMDSS equipment and sub-system equipment.
- Demonstrate how to use operational procedures for general communications.
- Demonstrate how to use the Fleet Broadband and Iridium A3 equipment for satellite communications.
Effective as of Fall 2024
Related Programs
GMDSS - General Operator's Certificate (GOC) (GMDS 1800) is offered as a part of the following programs:
- Indicates programs with a co-op option.
School of Transportation
- Nautical Sciences
Diploma Full-time
Course Offerings
Spring/Summer 2026
Below is one offering of GMDS 1800 for the Spring/Summer 2026 term.
CRN 70219
Dates
May 11 - May 27 Loading
- CRN 70219
- $1168.06 Domestic fees
Class meeting times
| Dates | Days | Times | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 11 - May 27 | Mon - Fri | 08:00 - 15:00 | Marine BMC |
Duration
3 weeks
Instructor
TBD
Course outline
Course outline TBD — see Learning Outcomes in the interim.
Important information
- You must purchase the required manuals and text(s) from the BCIT Bookstore: www.bcitbookstore.ca/bcit/ Physical (printed, spiral bound) manuals can be purchased from the BCIT Bookstore and shipped to the Marine Campus library for pick up or directly to your home address. You are required to have the manual with you on your first day at the Marine Campus. Course manuals will be made available to the class in a digital format (PDF) only. This resource must not be printed on campus. Note: Bring a laptop to access the digital copy in class.
Confirmation
Required
To proceed with registration and add this course to the cart, please confirm:
Status
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.