GMDSS EQUIPMENT TESTING GUIDE

GMDSS Equipment Testing Guide: A Practical Manual for Deck Officers

Keeping GMDSS equipment fully operational isn't optional — it's a SOLAS requirement, and it's your responsibility as a watchkeeping officer. Yet many cadets and even experienced officers struggle when it comes to actually performing the required tests, interpreting the results, and logging them correctly. This guide closes that gap.

Written by a licensed deck officer with real sailing experience, the GMDSS Equipment Testing Guide takes you step-by-step through testing every major piece of GMDSS equipment carried aboard SOLAS vessels — from daily checks to the periodic tests examiners and PSC inspectors expect you to know cold.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Inside this 17-page guide, you'll find clear, practical explanations covering:

- EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) testing procedures, self-test intervals, and battery expiry checks

- SART (Search and Rescue Transponder) activation tests and common false-alarm pitfalls

- VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) radio checks, test calls, and channel 70 procedures

- MF/HF DSC equipment testing and long-range communication verification

- Inmarsat-C testing, including message logging and distress alert procedures

- NAVTEX receiver checks and message reception verification

- Daily, weekly, and monthly GMDSS testing schedules aligned with SOLAS Chapter IV requirements

- How to properly log test results in the GMDSS radio log and what inspectors look for during audits

- Common mistakes officers make during equipment testing — and how to avoid them

- Troubleshooting tips for equipment that fails a routine test

WHO THIS GUIDE IS FOR

This guide is written specifically for:

- Deck cadets preparing for their GMDSS General Operator's Certificate (GOC)

- Junior and second officers responsible for GMDSS watchkeeping duties

- Officers preparing for oral exams or company interviews where GMDSS knowledge is tested

- Anyone who wants a clear, no-fluff reference they can actually use onboard, not just study for an exam

Unlike dense regulatory manuals that bury the practical steps under pages of legal language, this guide is built around what you actually need to do on watch: which button to press, what result to expect, and what to write in the log. It's the kind of resource meant to sit next to you during a drill, not gather dust in a folder.

WHAT'S INSIDE

- A clear preface explaining why GMDSS testing discipline matters, told through a real bridge scenario

- 7 focused chapters, each covering a distinct area of GMDSS equipment testing

- A fully clickable table of contents, so you can jump straight to the section you need

- Clean formatting with headers and footers designed for easy reading on tablets, phones, and e-readers

- A concise, practical writing style that respects your time

WHY OFFICERS CHOOSE THIS GUIDE

GMDSS failures during PSC inspections and audits are one of the most common deficiencies flagged on SOLAS vessels — and most of them come down to officers not knowing the correct testing procedure or failing to log it properly. This guide exists so that doesn't happen to you. Whether you're studying for your GOC exam, preparing for a company interview, or simply want a sharp refresher before your next watch, this guide gives you the confidence to test GMDSS equipment correctly, every time.

Add this guide to your maritime officer's library and keep it as a lasting reference throughout your career at sea.