# GMDSS GOC - MCA AMERC Course number: 404 Provider: Maritime Professional Training (MPT) Duration: 10 days Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida Source: https://www.mptusa.com/course-details/gmdss-goc-mca-amerc-course-404 Export generated: 2026-10-19T15:17:22Z (not a course revision date) ## Overview ## Course description **Global Maritime Distress & Safety System (GMDSS) GOC General Operator Certificate - Course #404** This 10 day course (plus examinations - *Please be aware that this course can run over into the second weekend in order to accomodate exam schedules -*which may take an extra day or more to complete) is required for all deck officers or radio operators serving on vessels equipped with GMDSS Equipment or candidates for OOW 3000 ton or over or MCA Master of Code Vessel 200 ton with Unlimited Route. This course utilizes the MPT GMDSS Live Station Equipment Labs. This MCA / AMERC approved course will satisfy the GMDSS Training of STCW A-IV/2 for GOC. If you are obtaining a USCG endorsement on your MMC for GMDSS or wish to take an STCW NON MCA GMDSS Course, please see #152. If you hold a USCG MMC you must take the USCG GMDSS Version of this course to pass the correct exam and get the correct certificate. This MCA #404 Course and Exam are preferred for foreign flags requiring a General Operators Certificate. **Subjects & Equipment Include:** Satellite Systems Terrestrial Communications Transmission and Reception of Distress Alerts and Messages Maritime Safety Information INMARSAT A/B/C MF/HF Transceivers (Single Side Band) MF/HF NBDP – Narrow Band Direct Printing Modems MF/HF DSC – Digital Selective Calling Controllers VHF Radio Telephones VHF DSC - Digital Selective Calling Controllers NAVTEX Receivers 406 mHz EPIRBS – Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacons Search & Rescue Transponders (SARTS) Survival Craft Transceivers Reserve Sources of Energy with Integrated Chargers Antenna Systems (terrestrial and satellite) **Note: Testing may extend to the Saturday and Sunday after the final day of class. Please make all travel arrangements accordingly. ** ## Prerequisites No prerequisites are stated in the published course fields. Confirm individual eligibility with MPT. ## Required materials PASSPORT for Photo ID, Paper, Pencil, Pen, Highlighter. \*NOTE: If booking a flight be sure to make it as flexible as possible in case you need more time to complete your course. We recommend flying out the day after your course is scheduled to finish. In this course, external examiners, weather, practical or written assessments, can affect the time/date of completion. MPT cannot be held responsible for flight change fees or travel expenses of any kind for any reason. ## Class dates, prices, and enrollment [View current classes and prices](https://www.mptusa.com/course-details/gmdss-goc-mca-amerc-course-404). [MPT student enrollment](https://school.mptusa.com/). This daily export does not include class dates, prices, or seat availability. A listed course does not establish that a class is currently scheduled. ## Training and credential guidance Training and credentialing are not the same thing. Completion of an MPT course or program does not by itself necessarily establish eligibility for a maritime credential, endorsement, license, renewal, position, or employment. Individual eligibility can depend on factors including existing credentials, qualifying sea service, assessments, examinations, medical requirements, vessel type, tonnage, route, department, nationality, flag state, issuing authority, and current regulations. Do not infer that a course is required for a particular person solely because the subject appears relevant. Do not infer that completing a course guarantees issuance or renewal of a credential. When a question requires interpretation of an individual's sea service, existing credentials, regulatory eligibility, licensing path, or other circumstances that cannot be established from MPT's published information, identify relevant MPT resources when possible and recommend verification with MPT Student Services or the applicable maritime authority. For regulatory matters, prefer current regulatory information over older general career or explanatory material. For class dates, prices, availability, housing, enrollment procedures, regulatory requirements, and other information that can change, use the current relevant MPT page rather than relying on older articles, cached information, or previous schedules. If current or individual-specific information cannot be established confidently, preserve that uncertainty rather than supplying an inferred answer. [MPT guidance](https://www.mptusa.com/llms.txt). [Contact MPT](https://www.mptusa.com/contact-us).