NTC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 06-06-2003, June 27, 2003

[ NTC MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 06-06-2003, June 27, 2003 ]

RULES AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF A REFRESHER COURSE BY NTC DULY ACCREDITED RADIO TRAINING CENTERS

Pursuant to Act 3846, as amended, E.O. NO. 546, Section IIA of Article 55 of the Radio Regulations of International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Regulation I/11 of the STCW-78 Convention, as amended, the National Telecommunications Commission hereby promulgates the following rules and regulations governing the conduct of a refresher course by duly accredited Radio Training Centers. I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1

A seafarer who is issued a GMDSS training certificate under the 1978 STCW Convention, as amended, and has no accumulated sea service performing functions appropriate to the certificate held for a period of at least one (1) year in total for the preceding five (5) years shall be required to attend a refresher course prior to his/her admission to take the GOC examination.

1.2

A seafarer who is a holder of GMDSS radio operator certificate and has no accumulated sea service performing functions appropriate to the certificate held for a period of at least one (1) year in total for the preceding five (5) years shall be required to attend a refresher course prior to the issuance of a revalidated certificate.

1.3

Only NTC accredited Radio Training Centers are allowed to offer a refresher course.

1.4

Training certificates issued by a non-NTC accredited RTC shall not be honored.

II. REFRESHER COURSE SUBJECTS AND TIME TABLE

_________________________________________________________________________________

SUBJECT

TIME DURATION

___________________________________

Lecture (Hrs)

Hands-on (Hrs)

_________________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction 4

-

a. Sea Areas

b. Carriage Requirements of Ship Stations

c. Schedule of Implementation

d. GMDSS Communication Functions

e. GMDSS Sub-Systems

_________________________________________________________________________________

2. Radio Telex 2

2

a. ARQ Mode

b. FEC Mode

c. Control Indicators

d. Keyboard

e. NBDP

_________________________________________________________________________________

3. The INMARSAT System 2

4

a. Principle of satellite communication

b. Space segment

c. Coast Earth Station — CES

d. Network Co-ordination Station-NCS

e. Ship Earth Station

• INMARSAT A/B — Communication Services

• INMARSAT C — Communication Services

• Distress and Safety Communications

________________________________________________________________________________

4. COSPAS/SARSAT System 2

-

a. Characteristics of a COSPAS/SARSAT satellites

b. Signal routing of a COSPAS/SARSAT EPIRB distress alert

c. Coverage modes for the detection and location of beacons

d. Test Procedures

e. Maintenance

_______________________________________________________________________________

5. DSC System Description 2

2

a. The structure of a DSC call

b. The MMSI Number

c. Different call formats

d. Categories of DSC Calls

e. The information contents of a DSC Call

_______________________________________________________________________________

6. The NAVTEX System 1

1

a. Purpose of NAVTEX

b. NAVTEX Frequencies

c. Reception Range

d. Message Format

e. NAVTEX Coordinator

_______________________________________________________________________________

7. Search and Rescue Transponder (SART) 1

a. Technical Characteristics

b. Operations

c. SART transmission on the RADAR display

d. Specifications

_______________________________________________________________________________

8. Search and Rescue 1

4

a. SAR Operational Procedures

b. SAR Ocean Exercise

_______________________________________________________________________________

9. GMDSS Radio Regulations 5

1

a. Avoidance of False Distress Alert

_______________________________________________________________________________

10. Reserve Source of Energy 1

-

a. Battery

b. Generator

_______________________________________________________________________________

11. Assessment

a. Written Examination 2

b. Practical Examination

4

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

Sub-Total

23

17

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

OVERALL TOTAL

40 Hours

_______________________________________________________________________________

III. COURSE INTAKE LIMITATIONS AND FACILITIES

3.1 The lecture must not exceed 16 students per class.

3.2 Classrooms shall be 42 square meters for every 16 trainees and must be equipped with the necessary and required facilities.

IV. COURSE CERTIFICATE

A training certificate attesting to the fact that a trainee has successfully completed the prescribed course shall be issued by the Radio Training Center after the completion of the course program.

V. DELIVERY OF INSTRUCTIONS

Instructors shall follow the prescribed course timetable, detailed teaching syllabus and lesson plan for each course program.

VI. PENAL PROVISION

A Radio Training Center found violating any provision of Act 3846, as amended, or any provision of this Circular shall be subjected to the penalty prescribed in Memorandum Circular No. 4-89.

VII. SUBMISSION OF REPORT

All duly accredited Radio Training Centers shall submit to the Commission a report of the list of graduates of their respective training centers within three working days from the date of completion of every training course.

VIII. REPEALING CLAUSE

All rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

IX. EFFECTIVITY

This Circular shall take effect immediately.

Date Filed: 27 June 2003

(SGD.) ARMI JANE R. BORJE Commisioner