Ancillary

South African Marine Radio: SRC and Beyond

SA-RADIO

Modules
4
Lessons
8
Questions
40

Independent study. xplor is not a SAMSA-accredited training provider and awards no certificate or Certificate of Competency. The SRC, LRC and GMDSS certificates can only be obtained through a SAMSA-accredited training institution and SAMSA's own examination and issue, and station licences and MMSIs only from ICASA or the relevant flag state. AI-drafted content pending subject-matter-expert review.

Drafted from the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations 2021 (GN 219 of 23 April 2021); the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations 2007 (GNR 705, as amended by GNR 731 of 2008); the South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act 44 of 2002; SAMSA Marine Notices 13 of 2007 and 14 of 2019; SAMSA's list of valid Marine Notices (24 January 2025) and its Training Standards Code list (QMS-OG-1004.2) and radio application forms; ICASA's ship station application under the Electronic Communications Act 36 of 2005; the SA Navy Hydrographic Office's 2023 national report to the IHO; NSRI publications; MCA MGN 324 Amendment 1, MSN 1858 Amendment 1 and the GOV.UK FSE country list; the RYA commercial endorsement application; and the Cayman OfReg maritime licence guide. Radio dealer, club, surveyor and training provider pages are used as labelled secondary sources..

Rule notes (8)

  1. Rule to know

    SA's 1951 Merchant Shipping Act is still in force

    The Merchant Shipping Bill B12-2023 was introduced on 11 May 2023 but, when checked on 27 September 2026, had not passed either House. Draft regulations gazetted on 24 December 2025 were still made under the Merchant Shipping Act 57 of 1951. Treat anything you read about the new Act as proposed, not law.

    Sources

  2. Rule to know

    Small vessel certificates still run on the 2007 Regulations

    The National Small Vessel Safety Regulations 2007 remain the working rules. Replacement drafts were published in 2024 and on 5 September 2025 (GN 3482, GG 53304), but none was confirmed as gazetted in final form. Check for a commencement notice before relying on any draft change.

    Sources

  3. Rule to know

    SAMSA medical on UK ships: accepted, but it is not an ENG1

    MSN 1815 (M+F) Amendment 7 (13 August 2026) lists South Africa among countries whose seafarer medicals are accepted on UK ships, but it does not let SA doctors issue an ENG1 and does not cover non-commercial pleasure yachts. The RYA commercial endorsement names only ENG1 or ML5. In the other direction, SAMSA requires examination by a SAMSA-approved practitioner. Carry both if you work in both systems.

    Sources

  4. Not confirmed

    Small vessel figures come from MN 13 of 2007, not the current notice

    Sea-time routes, entry requirements and endorsement rules in the SAMSA skipper courses are taken from MN 13 of 2007. SAMSA lists MN 13 of 2011 as the valid notice, but its text could not be obtained, and pass marks come from an agency syllabus (2008). Confirm figures with SAMSA or your examiner before booking.

    Sources

  5. Not confirmed

    Do SA SRC and LRC certificates expire?

    Reg 3(3)(a) of the 2021 Regulations requires CoCs to be revalidated every five years but excepts the long and short range radio certificates. Whether SRC and LRC cards carry a validity date in practice was not confirmed, and no flag's acceptance of a SAMSA SRC was confirmed either.

    Sources

  6. Not confirmed

    GMDSS Sea Area A1 off South Africa not confirmed

    MN 14 of 2019 opened the new VHF DSC coast network for test calls and said South Africa was declared Sea Area A3, with an A1 declaration pending. Whether A1 has since been declared was not confirmed. Never test a DSC distress alert: MN 14 of 2019 forbids it.

    Sources

  7. Not confirmed

    29 MHz is no longer watched for distress

    Secondary sources report that Telkom's 29 MHz distress watch ended on 1 July 2015; they disagree on whether the notice was MN 4 or MN 6 of 2015. Do not rely on 29 MHz for emergencies; use VHF Channel 16 and DSC.

    Sources

  8. Recent change

    Small vessel interim certificates: extensions ended 31 March 2025

    An interim small vessel certificate issued after a pass is valid for six months while the card is printed. MIN 06-24 extended affected interims only to 31 March 2025, and no later extension was found. If your card has not arrived, chase SAMSA rather than sailing on an old interim.

    Sources

SA-RADIO-M1 · The South African Radio Certificate Framework

2 lessons

SA-RADIO-M1-A Which radio certificates SAMSA issues, how they are structured, and which one a given vessel or ship requires.

In preparation
SA-RADIO-L1.1Who Issues What: SA Radio CertificatesSouth Africa has one radio certificate ladder, run by SAMSA, and one licensing authority, ICASA. **Mixing the two up is the commonest mistake.**PreviewSA-RADIO-L1.2Which Certificate Does Your Vessel Need?The vessel's category and tonnage decide the radio kit; the kit decides the certificate. **Work it out from the boat, not from the course brochure.**Locked

SA-RADIO-M2 · Licensing, Identity and Beacons

2 lessons

SA-RADIO-M2-A ICASA station licensing and MMSI assignment, and carriage, registration and checks of EPIRBs.

In preparation
SA-RADIO-L2.1Station Licensing, MMSI and Call SignsA DSC radio without an MMSI is just a VHF with a red button that does nothing useful. **ICASA gives the station its identity; SAMSA gives you the right to use it.**LockedSA-RADIO-L2.2EPIRBs and Beacon Registration in South AfricaAn unregistered EPIRB still transmits. **What it does not do is tell the MRCC who you are, which is what gets the search launched quickly.**Locked

SA-RADIO-M3 · Procedures and the Shore Network

2 lessons

SA-RADIO-M3-A VHF and DSC procedure in South African waters, and the roles of Cape Town Radio, MRCC Cape Town and the NSRI.

In preparation
SA-RADIO-L3.1VHF and DSC Procedures in South African WatersThe procedures are international. **What is local is who answers, on which channel, and how far out.**LockedSA-RADIO-L3.2The Shore Side: Cape Town Radio, MRCC and NSRIKnow who is on the other end before you need them. **Telkom's coast station, SAMSA's MRCC and the volunteer NSRI each have a different job.**Locked

SA-RADIO-M4 · Taking Your Radio Tickets Abroad

2 lessons

SA-RADIO-M4-A How a South African SRC is treated on foreign-flag yachts, and the LRC and GMDSS GOC progression for yacht officers.

In preparation
SA-RADIO-L4.1Your SA SRC on a Foreign-Flag YachtA SAMSA SRC is a real ITU-pattern certificate. **Whether a yacht's flag accepts it is the flag's call, and the answer is usually 'check'.**LockedSA-RADIO-L4.2Beyond the SRC: LRC and GMDSS GOCThe SRC gets you on the radio. **The GOC gets you on the bridge of a yacht over 24 m.**Locked