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Navigation, radio and VDR courses

Bridge equipment from SOLAS Chapter V: the VDR annual performance test, GMDSS radio surveys, radar, the magnetic compass and the AIS test.

  • 1 course, 7 lessons
  • About 1 h 37 min in all
  • Free certificate
Start with “Navigation, radio and VDR” See all lessons

Lesson 1 takes 14 min. It is open to everyone, no account needed.

Try a lesson, no account needed What SOLAS Chapter V requires on the bridge Lesson 1 of Navigation, radio and VDR · 14 min

The course

The 7 lessons

1 h 37 min

  1. What SOLAS Chapter V requires on the bridge 14 min Open to all
  2. The VDR annual performance test, step by step 15 min
  3. GMDSS: sea areas, equipment and the radio survey 15 min
  4. Radar and ARPA: performance checks 14 min
  5. The magnetic compass, compass adjustment and the deviation card 14 min
  6. The AIS annual test 12 min
  7. Navigation and radio equipment at port state control 13 min

Lesson 1 is open to everyone. Your email opens the rest, free.

What you will be able to do

After the course in this topic.

  • List what SOLAS Chapter V requires on the bridge of your ship
  • Follow a VDR annual performance test step by step
  • Explain the GMDSS sea areas and what the radio survey checks
  • Run the radar performance checks and keep the compass deviation card current
  • Prepare bridge equipment for a port state control inspection

Questions people ask

Does Chapter V apply to ships that never leave national waters?

Mostly yes. Unlike most of SOLAS, Chapter V applies to all ships on all voyages, with a few exceptions, and the Administration may decide how far some regulations apply to small ships and fishing vessels. Check your flag’s rules (for the UK, MGN 610).

Our ship is 2,900 GT. Do we need a second radar?

No. The second radar and tracking aid start at 3,000 GT (V/19.2.7). You need one 9 GHz radar, an electronic plotting aid and, from 500 GT, an automatic tracking aid.

Can ECDIS replace all paper charts?

ECDIS meets the chart carriage requirement of V/19.2.1.4 only with the back-up arrangements required by 2.1.5, which your flag must accept, and with up-to-date official charts.

Can the ship's electro-technical officer do the annual test?

Not on their own: SOLAS V/18.8 requires an approved facility, and the circular expects the manufacturer or a person it authorises. The crew keep the maintenance records and do the routine checks in the manual.

We changed the ECDIS. Does the VDR need retesting?

Record the change in the VDR maintenance records; the test report has sections for “change or repair of sensors” and significant events since the last test. Ask the VDR service company whether it needs a configuration update and check now rather than at the next annual test.

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