Regulation on Radio Operators Qualifications and Examination

DATE OF OFFICIAL GAZETTE: June 4, 2002/25482

From the Ministry of Transportation:Regulation on Radio Operators Qualifications and Examination

SECTION ONEGeneral Provisions

PART ONEPurpose, Scope, Basis and Definitions

PurposeArticle 1 — The purpose of this Regulation is to lay down the qualification classes of the radio operators

responsible for communications, who are to use the radio stations in all sea craft within or outside the global maritime distress and safety systems (GMDSS), in equipping ships for seaworthiness, and to set out the procedures and rules for granting such qualifications.

ScopeArticle 2 — This Regulation is applicable to radio operators to operate the GMDSS and other radio

stations to be installed in sea craft falling under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea in accordance with the Radiocommunications Law No. 2813.

BasisArticle 3 — This Regulation is issued on the basis of the Law No. 3539 dated 20/4/1989 and the

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeepıng, 1978 (STCW-78) to which Turkey is a party, together with its Amendment STCW-95, Resolution Com 4-4 of the World Radio Conference WRC-97, the Decree on the Organization and Tasks of the Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, the Public Servants Act, Travel Allowances Act, and the Law on Amendments to the Decree on General Staffing and the Relevant Procedures.

DefinitionsArticle 4 — For the purposes of this Regulation, a) Administration shall mean the Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs,b) IMO shall mean the International Maritime Organization,c) Convention shall mean the STCW-78 Convention and its amendments,d) Seafarers Regulation shall mean the regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 24832 of

31/7/2002 as well as its amendments and relevant directives,e) GASM shall mean the Seafarers Examination Center laid down in the Seafarers Regulation,f) CEPT shall mean European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations,g) WRC shall mean the World Radio Conference,h) INMARSAT System shall mean the maritime communications system via Inmarsat satellites,i) COSPAS–SARSAT shall mean the Polar orbiting maritime search and rescue satellite communication

systems,j) GMDSS shall mean the global maritime distress and safety systems,k) SOLAS–74 shall mean the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea with its amendments

to which Turkey is a party, l) ITU/RR shall mean the International Telecommunications Union/ Radio Regulations,m) DSC shall mean Digital Selective Calling,n) NBDP shall mean Narrowband Direct Printing telegram system,o) EPIRB shall mean a floating radio transmitter, which is able to transmit the identification signals of the

sea craft it belongs to and indicate the position of it, p) NAVTEX shall mean the system configured of the transmitter stations on the shore and automatic

receivers on sea craft, which periodically broadcast to the sea vehicles meteorological and navigational warning messages formatted in international standards as well as distress and accident reports by means of the NBDP technique,

q) Radio shall mean the devices or systems intended for transmitting and receiving or only transmitting or receiving or transferring, reflecting and/ or strengthening any clear or encrypted voice, data, stationary or moving pictures and voice signals via electromagnetic waves without any physical connection,

r) Area Al shall mean the sea area covered by at least one VHF coast station, from which VHF/DSC alerts can be received,

s) Area A2 shall mean the sea area covered by at least one MF coast station, beyond the area A1, from which MF/DSC alerts can be received,

t) Area A3 shall mean the sea area covered by INMARSAT satellites but beyond the areas A1 and A2, u) Area A4 shall mean the sea area outside areas A1, A2, A3,v) Short Range shall mean the sea area covered by at least one VHF coast station defined for sea craft

outside the scope of GMDSS, which is patrolled continuously in the VHF/ DSC distress and safety frequency, w) Long Range shall mean the sea area defined for sea craft outside the scope of GMDSS,x) Sea Craft within the Scope of GMDSS shall mean the sea craft required under SOLAS-74 to be fitted

with GMDSS with regard to equipment and personnel, y) Sea Craft outside the scope of GMDSS shall mean the sea craft not required under SOLAS-74 to be

fitted with GMDSS with regard to equipment and personnel, which are subject to other rules of the Convention that are relevant to communications,

z) Restricted Radio Operator shall mean the holder of the GMDSS Restricted Operator’s Certificate (ROC) issued by the competent authority in accordance with the requirements of the International Radio Regulations (ITU/RR),

aa) General Radio Operator shall mean the holder of the GMDSS General Operator’s Certificate issued by the competent authority in accordance with the requirements of the International Radio Regulations (ITU/RR),

bb) Radio Electronic Officer shall mean the holder of a GMDSS First-Class Radio Electronic Officer (REO) certificate or GMDSS Second-Class Radio Electronic Officer (REO) certificate issued by the competent authority in accordance with the requirements of the International Radio Regulations (ITU/RR)

cc) Short Range Radio Operator shall mean the title to be granted to the person who is to use the auxiliary navigational devices, including VHF/DSC, in the GMDSS in sea craft not subject to the SOLAS Convention,

dd) Long Range Radio Operator shall mean the title to be granted to the person who is to use the auxiliary navigational devices, VHF and MF/DSC in particular, in the GMDSS in sea craft not subject to the SOLAS Convention.

PART TWOGranting GMDSS Qualifications, Training and Examination

Granting GMDSS Qualifications Article 5 — Radio operators qualifications shall be granted by the Administration. Applicants for such

qualifications must complete the training with a curriculum envisaged under Section A-IV/2 of the Convention in a training institution recognized by the Administration and successfully pass the examinations for assessing radio operators qualifications. Curriculum of the mandatory training and examinations are detailed in the Section Two of this Regulation.

Qualification ClassesArticle 6 — Classes of the Qualifications to be granted to operators to work in GMDSS ship radio stations

are as follows: a) GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s (REO 1) qualificationb) GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s (REO 1) qualificationc) GMDSS General Radio Operator’s (GOC) qualificationd) GMDSS Restricted Operator’s (ROC) qualificationDates and Places of Examination Article 7 — Radio operators examinations shall be organized three times a year, namely in February, July

and September of every year, by the Seafarers Examination Center referred to in the Seafarers Regulation. Furthermore, examinations may be organized in places and times acceptable to the Administration. Radio operators examinations shall be announced by GASM to the applicants through the regional directorates and port head offices at least one month prior to the examinations.

Eligibility Criteria Sought in Applicants to Take the Examination Article 8 — The following criteria shall be sought in applicants to take radio operator examination: a) being a Turkish citizen or a citizen of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus attending to and/ or

completed a maritime education-training in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or being a foreigner of Turkish origin under the Law on Permitting Foreigners of Turkish Origin to Perform Their Professions and Crafts and to be Employed in Public and Private Organizations or Workplaces,

b) being no younger than 17 on the date of the examination, c) except for the deferred decrees save crimes committed by imprudence and the following crimes, not

being convicted of: infamous or discreditable crimes such as simple and qualified embezzlement, malversation, bribery, theft, fraudulency, counterfeiting, abuse of trust and fraudulent bankruptcy, or crimes of smuggling, human trafficking, misconduct in official tenders and procurements or the crimes perpetrated against the State or the crimes falling under the Law No. 4422 on Fighting Against Crime Organizations Pursuing Illicit Gain and Article 313 of the Turkish Penal Code No. 765, even if they were sentenced to heavy imprisonment or imprisonment for one year or more, or they have benefited an amnesty,

d) having graduated from a high school or equivalent for the GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification and GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification; from a secondary school or basic education school for the GMDSS General Radio Operator’s Qualification; and from a primary school or basic education school for the GMDSS Restricted Radio Operator’s Qualification,

e) proving with documents that s/he received the training complying with the level entailed by the radio operator’s qualification in a training institution recognized by the Administration, the curriculum of which is outlined in Part One of Section Two of this Regulation,

f) proving with documents that s/he performed the tasks involved by the GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification at sea for at least three years, in order to apply for the GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification examinations,

g) documenting that s/he is healthy to the satisfaction of the Seafarers Health Directive attached to the Seafarers Regulation.

Applicants Eligible for Examinations due to their Graduation Article 9 — Graduates of institutions providing maritime training shall be allowed to take the

examinations, only if they meet the following requirements in lieu of the training mentioned in point (e) of Article 8 of this Regulation:

a) Those who graduated from the ship electronics and communications departments of the four-year Anatolian maritime technical schools or technical colleges, or the radio or operational electronics departments of con-commissioned officers deck branch schools of the Turkish Navy Command, which implement curricula approved by the relevant administration and containing the subjects specified in Article 20 of this Regulation, shall be admitted to the GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator Qualification or lower radio qualification examinations pursuant to their graduation in line with the rules A-IV/2 and B-IV/2 stipulated by the Convention.

b) Those who graduated from the electronics or electronics and communications departments of faculties and four-year colleges shall be admitted to the GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification or lower radio qualification examinations, needless of service at sea, provided that they prove with documents that they have received approved training containing subjects, relevant to business management, English and legislation, of the curriculum specified in Article 19 of this Regulation.

c) Those who graduated from formal and non-formal training institutions, which implement the curriculum of General Radio Operator’s Qualification set out in Article 21 of this Regulation, meet the competence standards set out in Article 10 and are approved by the Administration shall be admitted to General Radio Operator’s Qualification or lower radio qualification examinations. However, those who graduated from training institutions before they meet the competence standards set out in Article 10 may not enjoy this right.

Competences of Training Institutions and Trainers Article 10 — Training institutions to apply to the Administration to obtain an authorization for training for

organizing GMDSS radio operator training must set up the following physical environment: a) For GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator, GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator or

GMDSS General Radio Operator training, installation of one of the following will be sufficient:

1) GMDSS communications simulator enabling a simulation of the communications devices satisfying all the feasible performance standards as accepted by IMO.

This device shall be capable of simulating MF/HF NBDP, MF/HF-DSC, VHF radiotelephone with DSC feature, NAVTEX, SART and EPIRB devices of Inmarsat A or Inmarsat B and Inmarsat C ship stations; contain at least two trainee consoles and one trainer console, and provide an integrated, real-time studying environment allowing written and oral communication between such consoles.

2) A laboratory environment allowing application of the real NBDP, DSC and MF/HF device with SSB capability, VHF radiotelephone with DSC feature, NAVTEX device, or real SART or EPIRB devices or their simulations made for training purposes, Inmarsat A or B and Inmarsat C, NBDP and DSC devices, which satisfy the performance standards of IMO.

As per the Radiocommunications Law No. 2813, for the real devices, the installing training institution shall be obliged to obtain an authorization to install radio and set up and use any radio communication systems from the administration and have such devices’ licenses available.

b) For the GMDSS Restricted Radio Operator training, the simulator or real device environment including only VHF, VHF-DSC, NAVTEX, SART and EPIRB functions of the devices in physical environments specified in points (a) and (b) of this article.

c) GMDSS stations in ships other than those included in the training/ school ships belonging to training institutions may not be used for training purposes.

d) Trainers to instruct the above courses must (according to the course subjects they are to instruct): 1) be graduates of departments of Electronics, Electrics or Electronics and Communications of four-year

faculties or colleges, for the electrics/ electronics subjects contained in training curricula, 2) be graduate of a college having a competence equivalent to the training they provide and have served at

sea at least for three years, for business management and legislation training subjects, 3) be graduate of a high school having a competence equivalent to the training they provide and have

served at sea at least for three years, for the practical training for the curriculum of business management. Trainer certificates shall be issued by the Administration. e) Number of students may not be more than 24 per trainer for divisions of theoretical instruction, and 12

per trainer in practice divisions. Application for Examinations Article 11 — For an applicant to take the radio operator examinations, s/he shall file an application with

the port of registry head office together with a file to include: a) Six face photographs,b) The original and two photocopies of the identity card,c) Certified document indicating the level of education, d) A recent, certified copy of the seafarers health verification certificate obtained in accordance with the

provisions of Health Regulation attached to the Seafarers Regulation and a health report indicating proper and fluent capability of speech in addition to the envisaged conditions,

e) a certificate, original or certified copy, in evidence of the fact that s/he has received and successfully completed the training specified in point (e) of Article 8 of this Regulation.

Applications for examinations must be made fifteen days prior to the announced date of examination at the latest. As a result of the assessment made by port head offices, the applicants found to be eligible for examinations shall be given an examination pass card (as specified in Annex-VIII). The list of the participants of the examination shall be communicated to the Presidency of GASM in advance of at least fifteen days.

Commissions for Preparation of Questions and Examination Article 12 — Commissions for Preparation of Questions and Examination for the Radio Operator

Examinations shall be appointed by the President of GASM in line with the rules prescribed in the Seafarers Regulation.

Commission’s Tasks Article 13 — Tasks of Commissions for Radio Operator Examinations are: a) The task of the Commission for Preparation of Questions is producing questions in accordance with the

curricula set out in Section Two of this Regulation and according to the qualification levels radio operators through its subunits,

b) Tasks of Commissions for Examinations are selecting examination questions from the GASM question bank, set the duration of examinations, supervising written examinations, making written and oral examinations and approving examination results.

Supervising whether examinations are made in accordance with the provisions of both this Regulation and the Seafarers Regulation shall be under the authority of the Independent Supervisory Board set up in accordance with the rule 1/8 and Section A-1/8 of the Convention and specified in Article 67 of the Seafarers Regulation.

Examinations and Examination QuestionsArticle 14 — In examinations made by GASM, a) Examination questions shall be prepared in accordance with the curricula set out in Part One of Section

Two of this Regulation and according to the qualification levels of radio operators, and the examinations are made in two stages, namely the written and practical stages. The written examination shall be organized in one session of multiple-choice questions. The practical examination shall involve questions assessing the use of devices, legislation, competence in English and technical knowledge according to the qualification level of the radio operator.

b) Short Range Radio Operator examinations made in regional directorates and the Administration shall involve only a written examination consisting of at least 25 multiple-choice questions.

c) Concentration and number of examination questions shall be made in accordance with the distribution shown in the schedule in Annex – VII.

Evaluation of ExaminationsArticle 15 — Assessment of the results of the GMDSS radio operator’s qualification examinations shall

be made by GASM on answer papers and through a computer-based assessment system, and be approved by GASM examination commissions. Practical examination shall be made by GASM examination commissions in a physical environment that complies with the standards laid down in Article 10 of this Regulation.

Assessment shall be made over 100 points in written and practical examinations. The applicants shall be considered successful if they receive at least 70 points in both the written and practical examination.

Documents regarding the examination shall be kept by GASM for two years from the date of examination and be disposed of at the end of such period of time.

Those applicants who receive at least 60 points over 100 points in the Short Range Radio Operator Qualification examination organized by regional directorates and the Administration shall be considered successful.

Eligibility for a QualificationArticle 16 — To be eligible for a qualification, the applicants should succeed in the written and practical

examinations they take and be no younger than 18 years of age. Unsuccessfulness in ExaminationsArticle 17 — For an applicant to be considered successful in the examinations made by GASM, s/he

should receive at least 70 points in both the written and the practical examination. Those applicants who fail to receive a satisfactory point in the written examination shall not be allowed to take the practical examination and considered unsuccessful. Those who pass the written examination and fail in the practical examination should pass the written stage of the examination when they take the examination again. Although examinations are different in terms of level of qualification, they are organized under a single title, radio operator examination.

Announcement of Results of the ExaminationArticle 18 — Results of the GMDSS Radio Operator written examination shall be announced within three

days subsequent to the date of the examination in a place and environment GASM will find appropriate. Practical examinations shall be organized within fifteen days at the latest from the end of the written examinations. Final results of the examinations shall be announced within four days subsequent to the practical examination a place and environment GASM will find appropriate and the regional directorates and the head offices of ports.

SECTION TWO Curricula of the GMDSS Radio Operator’s Qualification Training and the Subjects of

ExaminationsPART ONE

Curricula of the GMDSS Radio Operator’s Qualification Training

Curriculum of the GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification Training Article 19 — Curriculum of the GMDSS 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification training,

Radio Operator’s Qualifications and the Examination Regulation are shown in the table in Annex –I. Curriculum of the GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification TrainingArticle 20 — Curriculum of the GMDSS 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification training,

Radio Operator’s Qualifications and the Examination Regulation are shown the table in Annex-II. Curriculum of the GMDSS General Radio Operator’s Qualification TrainingArticle 21 — Curriculum of the GMDSS General Radio Operator’s Qualification training, Radio

Operator’s Qualifications and the Examination Regulation are shown the table in Annex-III. Curriculum of the GMDSS Restricted Radio Operator’s Qualification TrainingArticle 22 — Curriculum of the GMDSS Restricted Radio Operator’s Qualification training, Radio

Operator’s Qualifications and the Examination Regulation are shown the table in Annex-IV.

PART TWOGMDSS Radio Operator’s Qualification Examinations

Subjects of the GMDSS Radio Operator’s Qualification ExaminationsArticle 23 — Questions of the GMDSS Radio Operator’s Qualification examination are prepared and

asked so that the applicant need not remember the special features of the device and the trademark, relying on the subjects in the training curricula specified in accordance with the qualification levels in Part One of Section Two of this Regulation. The English questions prepared for General Radio Operators (GOC) shall largely focus on the operator’s manual, emergency and routine communication; the English questions of the 2nd Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification (REO 2) and the 1st Class Radio Electronic Operator’s Qualification (REO 1) shall focus on technical manuals, operator’s manuals, emergency and routine communication. Questions of the examinations prepared by GASM’s question preparation unit in accordance with the required curriculum of training shall be selected by GASM examination commissions; and such questions to be asked in writing shall be distributed in accordance with Article 14 of this Regulation and made a question booklet. Examination commission shall be entitled to develop methods for practical questions.

SECTION THREERadio Operators outside the Scope of GMDSS and Miscellaneous Provisions

PART ONEQualification Classes, Issuance of Certificates, Adaptation Process

Qualification ClassesArticle 24 — As per the provisions of International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS-74),

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeepıng, 1978 (STCW-78) and Resolution Com 4-4 of the World Radio Conference WRC-97, qualification classes to be granted to operators to serve at Radio stations outside the scope of the GMDSS arrangements are as follows:

a. a) Short Range Radio Operator (SRC) b. b) Long Range Radio Operator (LRC)

Issuance of Qualification CertificatesArticle 25 — Qualification certificates of the radio operators outside the scope of GMDSS shall be issued

by the Administration. The applicants wishing to obtain the said certificates should be a Turkish citizen at the age of 18 at least (those who are of a foreign nationality, but reside in Turkey may be short range radio operators), have graduated from a primary or basic education school, have completed a training with a curriculum envisaged by Article 27 of this Regulation for the Long Range Radio Operator’s qualification at a training institution recognized and acceptable to the Administration and pass the examinations to be organized for the operator’s qualifications outside the GMDSS.

Adaptation ProcessArticle 26 — Regarding the certificates issued prior to the entry into force of this Regulation,

a) Those who hold a Restricted Radio Telephone Operator’s Certificate or GMDSS Short Range Radio Operator’s Certificate or who prove with documents, while receiving a qualification certificate within the framework of the Seafarers Regulation, that s/he has passed examinations in the subjects mentioned in Annex-V shall be given a Short Range Radio Operator’s certificate, and

b) Those who hold a 1st Class Radio Telegram, 2nd Class Radio Telegram, General Radio Operator’s, Radio Telephone Operator’s or GMDSS Long Range Radio Operator’s Certificate shall be given a Long Range Radio Operator’s certificate.

In the above process, no examination requirement shall be sought. For the said adaptation process, the right holders should, in accordance with this Regulation, submit to the

administration from which they have obtained their certificates a petition as accompanied by the original copy of the certificate, copy of the identity card, and a recent, certified copy of the Seafarers Health Verification Certificate.

Examinations and Required Training for New Qualifications Article 27 — The Long Range Radio Operator Examinations, related to a radio operator’s qualification

outside the scope of GMDSS, shall be made by GASM in February, July and September of each year, in places and on dates the Administration would find appropriate and on subjects shown in Annex-V. Examinations shall be composed of the questions selected according to the curriculum annexed to this Regulation; and they shall take the form of a multiple-choice examination for the Short Range Radio Operators, and written and practical examination for the Long Range Radio Operators. Application to the examinations, announcement of the examinations, organization of the examinations, award and renewal of qualifications shall be in accordance with the requirements laid down in Section One of this Regulation.

Short range radio operator examinations shall be made by the Administration and regional directorates in January, April, July and November, in places and on dates to be found appropriate depending on the application. Applications for examinations shall be accepted until the day before the examination.

The institutions to provide the long range radio operator’s training, required to be received before taking examinations, must provide a physical environment containing the devices specified in point (b) of Article 10 of this Regulation and the MF/HF radiotelephone device or their simulation. Curriculum of the long range radio operator’s training, Radio Operator’s Qualifications and the Examination Regulation are shown in the table in Annex-VI.

PART TWO Miscellaneous and Final Provisions

Issuance of Qualification Certificates Article 28 — After the announcement of the results of the examination, the applicants passing the

examination should file an application with the head offices of ports, with which they had an examination application, together with the following documents, provided that they are at the age of 18 at least. Qualification certificates for short range operator’s qualifications shall be issued by the regional directorate where the examination was made, and those for other radio operator’s qualifications shall be issued by the Administration.

a) Application petitionb) A pay slip indicating that the fee for the qualification certificate is paidc) Criminal record (not required for Public Servants)d) A recent, certified copy of the seafarers health verification certificatee) Four face photographs Renewal of Qualification CertificatesArticle 29 — Radio Operator’s Qualification Certificates shall remain valid for five years as from the date

of issue. For the renewal of said certificates, an application is required to be filed with the port of registry together with the following documents.

a) Application petition,b) Two face photographs,c) The original qualification certificate or its photocopy for indefinite certificate, d) A recent, certified copy of the seafarers health verification certificatee) Criminal record (not required for Public Servants)

f) A pay slip indicating that the fee for the qualification certificate is paidg) A document certifying that the applicant has served at sea in his/her field for at least one year within the

last five years with a qualification certificate other than the Short Range Radio Operator’s qualification certificate, or that s/he has served for at least two years within the last five years at the Administration, maritime training institutions, public or private maritime institutions and organizations or other maritime-related organization recognized and approved by the Administration,

h) A document certifying that the applicant has passed the practical examination to be made by GASM, for the radio operators failing to complete the period of service provided for in point (g) of this Article.

Vested RightArticle 30 — Qualifications of those who take and pass an examination in accordance with the Regulation

on Global Maritime Distress and Safety Communications Systems (GMDSS) Radio Operator’s Qualification Examination shall be assumed valid. Vested rights of those who have been assumed successful in previous examinations but not received qualification shall be reserved.

The institutions which have been approved in writing by the Administration, Directorate General of Radiocommunications and Telecommunication Authority to provide GMDSS radio operator’s training by the date of entry into force of this Regulation, and the certificate holders proving that they have achieved an approved training in the formal training institutions related to the Ministry of National Education in accordance with the qualification level for which they are a candidate pursuant to the Law No. 3308 on Vocational Training shall be exempt from the training set out in point (e) of Article 8 of this Regulation while they take the GMDSS radio operator examinations, provided that such certificate details are verified from the source.

Loss of Radio Operator’s Qualification certificatesArticle 31 — Where holders of radio operator’s qualification certificates lose their certificates, such

certificates shall be renewed within the framework of Article 29 of this Regulation, provided that they file an application with the port head office that issued the certificate, as accompanied by a petition indicating that the certificate is lost and the notice of loss published in a newspaper.

Temporary Withdrawal and Invalidation of Qualifications Article 32 — Radio operator’s qualification certificates of those holders who perform the following acts

shall be withdrawn temporarily or invalidated. a) Acts entailing temporary withdrawal of qualification certificates for three months: 1) Violation of maritime distress, urgency and safety communications for two times during one year, 2) Violation of the national and international rules other than those referred to in the subsection 1 for three

times during one year, 3) Use of the name or call sign of an out-of-service sea craft or another ship while communicating with

coast stations, 4) Allowing another person to use the radio operator’s qualification certificate, b) Acts entailing invalidation and withdrawal for an indefinite period of qualification certificates: 1) Prohibition or destitution of public rights and civil rights, 2) Continuing to serve without a certificate, during the period for which the qualification is temporarily

withdrawn, 3) Temporary withdrawal of the qualification for two times during one year, 4) Repetition of the acts referred to in the subsection 3 and 4 of subparagraph (a) of this Article. c) Where health status poses an obstruction to the active fulfillment of the tasks under the provisions of the

Seafarers Health Directive, qualification certificates shall either be withdrawn or invalidated, subject to the health status.

Recognition of Qualification Certificates Issued by Another StateArticle 33 — Rules laid down in the Seafarers Regulation shall apply to the Administration’s recognition

of radio operator’s qualification certificates issued by another state which is a party to the International Convention STCW 78/95.

Scope of Activity of Qualification CertificatesArticle 34 — Scope of activity under the qualification certificates set out in this Regulation are governed

by the Directive on Manning Ships with Seafarers, which entered into force in relation to the Seafarers

Regulation. However, for the radio qualifications valid for ships not equipped with GMDSS referred to in Article 14 of the said Directive, the adaptation qualifications in this Regulation shall be applicable.

Issues not Included in the Regulation Article 35 —Radio operator’s qualification, qualification classes and examination issues not provided for

in this Regulation shall be subject to ITU and IMO Resolutions as well as CEPT Recommendations and the rules and codes of the STCW Convention. Registration of Radio Operator’s qualifications shall be made in accordance with Section Four of the Seafarers Regulation.

Repealed LegislationArticle 36 — The Regulation on Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS) Radio Operator

Licenses and Examinations having entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette No. 22085 dated 18/10/1994, its annexes and amendments, and those articles, annexes and amendments of the Regulation on Radio Operator’s Examination published in the Official Gazette No. 20848 dated 20/04/1991 which regard maritime radio operators shall be repealed.

Provisional Article 1 — Those applicants who were to take a make-up examination in one branch after they take the radio operator’s examination prior to the entry into force of this Regulation shall be granted the right to enter the examinations to be opened within six months as from the date of entry into force of this Regulation in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on Global Maritime Distress and Safety Systems (GMDSS) Radio Operator Licenses and Examinations having entered into force upon its publication in the Official Gazette No. 22085 dated 18/10/1994, its annexes and amendments.

Provisional Article 2 — Time for the renewal of qualification certificates of those radio operators who hold a qualification certificate but whose certificate and the validity of the one-year renewal expired as of the date of entry into force of this Regulation shall be extended for one year as from the date of entry into force of this Regulation. Radio operators entitled to the renewal process should file an application with the regional directorates of the Administration and port head offices in accordance with Article 29 of this Regulation.

Entry into ForceArticle 37 — This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication. Enforcement Article 38— Provisions of this Regulation shall be enforced by the Minister to whom the Undersecretariat

of Maritime Affairs is related.

ANNEX-1 CURRICULUM OF THE GMDSS 1ST CLASS RADIO ELECTRONIC OPERATOR’S

QUALIFICATION TRAININGTraining Subject Training Durations (Hours)

Theoretical Practical TotalI- Concepts relevant to Maritime Communications a) Radio Communications 1 - 1 1- Definition of Radio Communications 2- Types of Radio Communications 3- Use of Radio Systems in Maritime Communications b) Maritime Frequency Bands 2 - 2 1- Information on Maritime Frequency Bands 2- Frequency Characteristics 3- Frequency Bands used in Maritime Communications c) Basic Concepts used in Radio Broadcasts 4 - 4 1- Modulation Technique and its Types 2- Demodulation Technique 3- Resonance Fact and Resonance Circuits 4- Filter Circuits 5- Oscillators d) Emission 2 - 2 1- Abbreviations Specifying the Emission Content 2- Types of Emission 3- Types of Emission used in different Forms of Broadcast

Subtotal 9 - 9Theoretical Practical Total

II- GMDSS System and Marine Mobile Craft a) International Agreements Laying Down Procedures and Rules for Maritime Communications

2 - 2

1- SOLAS 2- ITU Radio Regulations 3- STCW 4- Hamburg SAR Convention b) General Concept of GMDSS 3 - 3 1- GMDSS Master Plan and Navigation Areas 2- Watchkeeping in Distress Frequencies 3- Functional Requirements of Ship Radio Stations 5- Power Supplies in Ship Radio Stations 6- Classes of Competence

7- Radio Safety Certificates 8- GMDSS Radio Logbook 9- Its Impacts on human and environment health, risks and ways of protection c) Characteristics of Marine Mobile Service 3 - 3 1- Definition of Marine Mobile Station 2- Types of Marine Mobile Stations 3- Devices Required to be Available in Ships According to GMDSS Navigation Areas d) Characteristics of Marine Mobile Satellite Service 2 - 2 1- Devices used in Marine Mobile Satellite Service 2- Characteristics of Devices used in Marine Mobile Satellite Service and Types of Communication e) Fulfillment of GMDSS Requirement 2 - 2 1- Land Maintenance Agreement and its Conditions 2- Marine Maintenance Agreement and its Conditions 3- The Duplication Requirement 4- Fulfillment of GMDSS Requirement according to Navigation Areas of Ships

Subtotal 12 - 12Theoretical Practical Total

III- GMDSS Routine Communications Procedure a) Abbreviations relevant to Maritime Communications 4 2 6 1- IMO Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) 2- Use of International Phonetic Alphabet 3- Standard Abbreviations and Frequently Used Service Codes b) Writing and Speaking Skills in Routine Communications 4 8 12 1- Information on Traffic Lists 2- Selection of Suitable Communications Frequencies and Methods 3- Wireless Telephone Conversation Procedure in Terrestrial System 4- Wireless Telex Conversation Procedure Terrestrial System 5- Automatic Routine Communications Procedure via DSC in Terrestrial System 6- Routin Communications Procedure via Inmarsat Systems

Subtotal 8 10 18Theoretical Practical Total

IV- Communications Systems Within the Scope of GMDSS and Their Use a) Terrestrial Communications System 4 8 12

1- Operating Principle of the Terrestrial System 2- Frequency Bands Used in Terrestrial System 3- VHF System and Use of the VHF Device 4- MF System and Use of the MF Device 5- HF System and Use of the HF System 6- Narrowband Direct Print (NBDP) System and Use of the Wireless Telex Device 7- Digital Selective Call System (DSC) and Use of the VHF, MF, HF, DSC Devices b) Satellite System 2 7 9 1- Characteristics of Inmarsat System 2- Space, Earth and Marine Units of Inmarsat System 3- Types and Characteristics of Inmarsat Terminals 4- Inmarsat-A, Inmarsat-B, Inmarsat-C, Inmarsat-EGC Receiver used in Sea Craft and Their Use c) Equipment Supplementary to Radio Systems 4 2 6 1- Antennas 2- Batteries and Backup Power Supplies 3- Radio Devices in Life Saving Vehicles


V- GMDSS Distress Communications Procedure a) Distress Communications Frequencies in GMDSS 1 - 1 1- Frequencies Required to be Listened in Terrestrial Systems According to GMDSS 2- Frequencies Required to be Listened in Satellite Systems According to GMDSS 3- Frequencies used in the Maritime Safety Information Systems b) Types of Distress Communications Per Content 2 - 2 1- Distress Communications 2- Urgency Communications 3- Safety Communications c) Procedure for Distress Communications Using Terrestrial Systems

1 - 1

d) Procedure for Distress Communications Using Satellite Systems

1 - 1

e) Search and Rescue Operations (SAR) 1 - 1 1- SAR Coordination Centers and Subunits 2- Commercial Ships Search and Rescue Manual f) Protection of Distress Frequencies and Avoidance of Wrong Alarms

2 2 4

1- Rules to be Observed for the Avoidance of Wrong Alarms

2- Procedure for the Cancellation of Wrong Alarms 3- Rules to be Observed During the Testing of Devices within GMDSS 4- Penalties to be Applied to Those Responsible for Wrong Alarms


VI- Distress Safety Systems within the Scope of GMDSS and Their Use a) Cospas – Sarsat Satellite System 1 1 2 1- Characteristics of Cospas – Sarsat System 2- Use of the Cospas – Sarsat EPIRB Device b) Inmarsat System - 3 3 1- Use of Inmarsat-A, Inmarsat-B, Inmarsat-C Devices in Distress Safety Broadcasts 2- Use of Inmarsat-E Device in Distress Broadcast c) Use of Terrestrial Systems (VHF, MF and HF DSC) in Distress Safety Communications

- 6 6

d) Maritime Safety Information Services (MSI) 3 5 8 1- Purpose of MSI 2- Broadcast of Maritime Safety Information Using Satellite Systems 3- Broadcast of Maritime Safety Information Using Terrestrial Systems 4- Characteristics of Navtex System, Use of Navtex Receiver and Place of Navtex in MSI 5- International Safety NET System and Its Importance in MSI


VII- Maintenance Functions of GMDSS Equipment a) Periodic Tests and Checks 1 2 3 1- Daily, Weekly, Monthly Tests 2- Daily, Weekly, Monthly Checks b) Equipment Manual and Use of Measurement Devices 2 2 4 c) Detection and Correction of Potential Failures - 2 2 1- Replacement of Fuse and Indicator Lights 2- Check and Replacement of Connectors


VIII- Definitions and Laws regarding Electric & Electronic Circuits

2 - 2

a) Definitions 1- Current 2- Voltage