VHF Marine Radio Licence (SROCP) — Liquid Edge

The VHF Marine Radio Licence course at Liquid Edge Sailing School in Balmain prepares you for the Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency (SROCP), the qualification you need to legally operate a VHF marine radio in Australia. It combines home study with a short practical class and exam, about three hours in total. The exam is marked by the Office of Maritime Communications, which issues the licence.

What you'll learn

A VHF radio is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment on a yacht. It lets you talk to other vessels and marine rescue services, ask for help or advice, and listen to weather broadcasts. The course teaches you to use it properly, which matters because every vessel within range hears your transmission.

• Radio procedure. How to make and answer a call, choosing the right channel, and keeping transmissions short and clear so channels stay free for others.
• Distress, urgency and safety calls. The difference between a MAYDAY, a PAN PAN and a SECURITE, when each is appropriate, and how to relay information in an emergency. In a real emergency a clear, correctly structured call can save time and lives.
• Weather and safety broadcasts. Where and when to listen for forecasts and warnings.
• Licensing rules. If you have a VHF radio on your boat, you must hold a licence to operate it.

How Liquid Edge runs it

When you register you receive links to online resources and an online book to study at home. You then attend a single session at the school combining a short hands-on class with a VHF radio and the exam, about three hours in total. Bring a passport-size photo to attach to your exam paper, which is witnessed by the invigilator. Your completed exam and paperwork are sent to the Office of Maritime Communications for marking, and successful candidates are issued the SROCP.

Who it suits

Anyone who skippers or regularly crews on a boat with a VHF radio: boat owners, charterers and sailors working through skipper qualifications. No sailing experience is needed.

Where it leads

A VHF licence is a prerequisite for Liquid Edge's IYT International Bareboat Skipper and ICC certification and for IYT Yachtmaster Coastal, so it makes sense to complete it early on the path to skippering.

Full course guide

For the full syllabus, see the Marine Radio SROCP guide.