Access to GMDSS knowledge is limited, and this fact doesn’t encourage a regular refreshing of knowledge or life-long learning. Keeping one's GMDSS skills up-to-date is crucial, for though emergencies at sea rarely happen, they can happen. Our knowledge and skills should be refreshed regulary so as to ensure the safety of the crew, passengers and freight (even though this is not necessarily a legal requirement).
It is for this reason we started to develop GMDSS courses using e-learning technology with the aims of ensuring that:
- access to GMDSS courses should be free of charge,
- the GMDSS courses should include real-life animation of GMDSS communication device operation (and conveying to the learner how such a device operates),
- the GMDSS courses should include GMDSS communication device simulators (putting a learner into an active role - instead of just answering questions - and so the learner actively practises and verifies their knowledge on a simulator).
Our first course, called the "VHF GMDSS course" and developed in 2005, was only concerned with the VHF radio system. Initially, it was only available in Slovenian and was very popular in its native Slovenia, before being translated into English at the end of 2005.
Meanwhile, a European project called "EGMDSS" was launched with the aim being to upgrade our VHF GMDSS course to an SRC course with the facility of translation into 8 languages. In 2006, our "EGMDSS" 2-year project was successfully approved for EU funding by Leonardo da Vinci Community Vocational Training Action Programme and the outcome was an SRC course available in more than 10 languages. This "EGMDSS" project involved 11 partners from 9 countries.
In 2008, after the "EGMDSS" project was successfuly completed, the consortium of 12 partners from 10 countries launched the "E-GMDSSVET" multilateral project, which was also EU-funded by the Leonardo da Vinci Community Vocational Training Action Programme. One of the main outcomes was the creation of an LRC course available in 10 languages.
The LRC course that you will take part in is the result of 5 years' work by the Spinaker d.o.o. company and all the partners involved for 18 months through the EU-funded part of the project.
The LRC course is continuously being evaluated by professionals. We are sure that the LRC course will suit your needs for:
- preparing you for the LRC (Long Range Certificate) examination
- refreshing your knowledge, or
- simply learning how to operate the equipment.
M.sc. Tomaž Gregorič
director
Spinaker d.o.o.