Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
This course prepares you to communicate effectively and professionally by marine radio in international settings. You will learn the key phrases, procedures and terminology used in English, Spanish and French, with critical vocabulary in Italian, and master the clear, concise communication that safety and coordination at sea depend on, through practical simulations of real radio exchanges.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course?
This short course trains you to use marine VHF radio confidently in several languages. You will master the phonetic alphabet, the transmission of figures, positions, channels and times, the structure of a standard call, procedure words and the golden rules of radiotelephony; distress, urgency and safety communications under the GMDSS, including Mayday, Pan-Pan, Sécurité and Mayday Relay; exchanges with ports, VTS centers, tugs and pilots, from requesting berthing instructions to reporting position, draft and persons on board; weather reports, the Beaufort and Douglas scales, navigational warnings and NAVTEX; and the basic operation of VHF and DSC equipment.
What sets this course apart: it works across English, Spanish and French, with emergency vocabulary in Italian for the busy waters of the Mediterranean; practical simulations recreate real radio situations, from a radio check to a distress call; specific exercises improve pronunciation and intonation so that your messages are understood first time; it covers everyday port, VTS and traffic communication as well as emergencies; and it explains the equipment, the radio log and the international framework of operator certificates and ship station licenses, which are issued by the competent maritime authorities.
Program highlights
- Universal protocols: phonetic alphabet, numbers, call structure and procedure words.
- GMDSS emergency communication: Mayday, Pan-Pan, Sécurité and Mayday Relay.
- Ports, VTS, tugs and pilots: standard exchanges in English, Spanish and French.
- Weather and navigational warnings: Beaufort and Douglas scales, squalls, fog and NAVTEX.
- Equipment: VHF settings, DSC calls, MMSI numbers and radio maintenance.
- Regulatory framework: operator certificates, ship station licenses and the radio log.
Syllabus of the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Universal protocols and the international phonetic alphabet
- 1.1. Mastering the ICAO phonetic alphabet (Alfa, Bravo, Charlie) and its standard pronunciation to avoid spelling errors
- 1.2. Transmitting figures and numerical values: the specific pronunciation of coordinates, channels, times and distances in technical English
- 1.3. The structure of a standard call: identification of sender and receiver, working channel and procedure words (Over, Out, Roger)
- 1.4. The golden rules of radiotelephony: brevity, clarity, net discipline and think, listen, speak
- 1.5. Radio checks: readability and signal strength scales from 1 to 5 to verify the equipment
Emergency and distress communication (GMDSS) in a bilingual setting
- 2.1. The MAYDAY distress procedure: the structure of a grave and imminent danger message and its immediate rendering in English and Spanish
- 2.2. PAN-PAN urgency calls: situations affecting the safety of the vessel or persons without immediate danger of sinking
- 2.3. SÉCURITÉ safety messages: weather warnings, drifting buoys and hazards to navigation in international waters
- 2.4. Acknowledgment procedures and the relay of distress messages (Mayday Relay) by third-party stations
- 2.5. Critical emergency vocabulary in French and Italian for high-traffic areas of the Mediterranean
Communication with control stations, ports and VTS services
- 3.1. Phrases for requesting port entry and berth allocation in English, French and Spanish (requesting berthing instructions)
- 3.2. Communication with Vessel Traffic Services (VTS): reporting position, destination, draft and number of persons on board
- 3.3. Vocabulary for coordinating tugs and pilots: maneuvering instructions, distances and engine power
- 3.4. Handling customs and immigration matters by radio: arrival notices and health formalities (free pratique)
- 3.5. Exchanging local traffic information: how to report collision courses or maneuvering intentions to other vessels
Meteorology and navigational warnings in multilingual contexts
- 4.1. Interpreting and reporting weather forecasts in English (near gale, sea state, visibility) and their equivalents in Spanish and French
- 4.2. Vocabulary of the Beaufort and Douglas scales for describing wind and sea conditions precisely by radio
- 4.3. Receiving navigational warnings and notices to mariners: obstructions, military exercises or unlit lighthouses
- 4.4. Transmitting alerts about sudden weather phenomena: squalls, waterspouts and dense fog
- 4.5. Using the NAVTEX system and receiving automated safety bulletins in English
Technical equipment, regulations and international licenses
- 5.1. Basic operation of handheld and fixed VHF sets: squelch adjustment, power (1 W/25 W) and channel scanning
- 5.2. Using Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and the MMSI number: procedures for automatic individual and group calls
- 5.3. Preventive maintenance of radio equipment: care of antennas and batteries and protection against salt corrosion
- 5.4. The legal framework: the Short Range Certificate (SRC) and international ship station licenses
- 5.5. Official records: keeping the radio log correctly in line with the requirements of maritime authorities
Duration and format of the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
Career opportunities after the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
Questions about the Multilingual Maritime Radio Communication Course
English as the working language of marine radio, plus Spanish and French, with critical emergency vocabulary in Italian for the Mediterranean.
The language barrier itself. Standard phrases, the phonetic alphabet and clear pronunciation reduce misunderstandings, and the course trains all three.
Yes. You learn the structure of Mayday, Pan-Pan and Sécurité messages, acknowledgment procedures and the Mayday Relay, and practice them in simulations.
The course teaches the content behind operator certificates such as the SRC, but those certificates are issued by the competent maritime authority, which sets its own examination.
Yes. It covers handheld and fixed VHF sets, squelch and power settings, DSC calls with the MMSI number, basic maintenance and keeping the radio log.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded, radio simulations and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of about 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
More programs in Bridge and navigation
Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at seafarers, yacht skippers and crews, port, marina and VTS staff and anyone who uses marine radio in international waters; experience in radio communication or a related field is helpful, as is a working knowledge of at least two languages; the course teaches the subject, and official operator certificates such as the SRC are issued by the competent maritime authority after its own examination.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable, fast internet connection, an up-to-date browser, a good-quality microphone and headphones for radio practice and software to view PDF documents.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.