RYA VHF Course - Online

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VHF – Online

Complete the RYA VHF course online for a flexible alternative to classroom-based learning. Develop the essential knowledge required to operate a marine VHF radio safely and prepare for your Short Range Certificate examination.

Please note: After completing the online course, you will still need to attend the NXT Marine clubhouse to take your examination.

What You Will Learn

VHF Communication Basics

Understand radio stations, communication channels and their designated uses.

Radio Range and Reception

Discover how line of sight and antenna height affect VHF communication.

Maritime Safety Systems

Learn about the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and relevant onboard equipment.

Radio Controls

Become familiar with common marine VHF radio controls and their functions.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

Understand how DSC works and how to send different types of messages.

Emergency Procedures

Learn to recognise distress situations, transmit and receive distress calls, and prevent false alerts.

Urgent Messages and Safety Broadcasts

Understand communication procedures for urgent situations, weather information and navigation warnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

You will require roughly 16 hours of Tuition, so both days will be nearly 8 hours long.

Standard course times are 0900 – 1700 with a lunch break of approximatley 60 minutes.

We may finish slightly earlier or later depending on conditions and student progress.

We aim to teach as much as possible outside of the classroom however there are a few hours worth of theory that we must cover. Depending on the weather, we will be out for most of the course.

Dress appropriately!

Upon course completion, you are eligible to apply for your ICC. This can be done online via the RYA website here:

https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge/abroad/icc/icc-apply

If you attend and pass a course, your instructor will go though the process with you.

Comfortable clothing suitable for some light activity that does not restrict your movement.

We have a strict maximum limit of 3 students per course.

Courses require at least 2 students to run. 1-2-1 or private courses can be arranged.

Parking is limited unless you are a blue badge holder, please enquire when booking.

There is space for motorcycle and bicycle parking.

We have Shadwell Station (Overground & DLR) & Wapping Station (Overground) within close proximity of us.

Our high quality Spinlock lifejackets and Helly Hansen Waterproofs will be provided as part of your course fee.

Please look after them as we reserve the right to charge for damage we deem negligent/intentional.

Negligent/intentional discharge of a lifejacket will lead to a £50 fee to cover admin and re-arming costs.

If you do not meet the standard required to recieve a pass certificate, you will not fail the course. Provided you have completed the full 16 hours, we will provide an action plan you can work through to bring you up to the standard required.

You can come in another time for further practice. One of our highly experienced instructors will make it clear as to what is left to be completed.

The first hour will be free. If you need more than 1 hour extra tuition, then it will be a reduced cost of £50 per hour thereafter.

Please note, this is not a common occurence.