Breaking News: Ship Radio Licensing

[Mike_Martin]

All,

An old subject that has been the subject of much work (by both RA and lately Ofcom) over the last 2 years. The object of the game is to make it easier and less restrictive for the end user to obtain this piece of documentation for radio carrying vessels.

Today Ofcom has published a consultation document in order to get the opinion of “stakeholders” on the results found and the preferred way forward for British vessels. The result will surprise many of those who object to the licence in the first place but hey maybe we weren’t that bad after all.

Please have a look at this [url="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/"]http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/ [/url] you can of course make your thoughts known using the response forms.

Mike

 

[ZuidWester]

Details of proposal

Agree to licence for life. Silly annual renewal. A radio is safety gear!

Consultation published: Feb 22, 2005
Consultation closes: May 3, 2005

Summary

Ofcom proposes to reform ships radio licensing in order to reduce the regulatory burden on radio users. Key proposals are as follows:


1. To make ship radio licences valid for the life of the vessel (they are currently renewable annually);


2. To make electronic licences (probably issued as Adobe PDF® documents) available free of charge.


These proposals are consistent with the level of regulatory intervention required to manage ships’ radio spectrum and also with the UK’s international obligations.


Ofcom is aware that ships’ radio equipment exists primarily for the safety of human life and vessels at sea. We hope that these reforms would help to encourage more boat users to fit licensed ship radio equipment.


This consultation also examines some alternative options for the reform of ship radio licensing and we welcome your views on whether you agree with our analysis and conclusions. Other options considered include:


1. the transfer of the licensing function to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA);


2. to make ships’ radio WT Act licence exempt;


3. to maintain the existing licensing regime

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Re: Details of proposal

Excellent news Mike.... common sense prevails.......

 

[winchservicing]

Sorry to ask this, as I suspect it has been asked many a time before.

As far as I can see the only reason to have a VHF these days is for emergency Mayday and Pan-Pan calls! Everyone else uses their mobiles!

They don't ask you to show your licence when you buy a VHF. Nor do they ask you your licence number before they come out to rescue you!

You give the vessel name and position. Not your licence number!


What's the point in having it-if you cannot police it???????????

Sorry slight typo-its their not there-derrr!

 

[FWB]

So there is intelligent life at ofcom after all.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Also, have to agree with Cliff a little....

After having made the effort and investment necessary to get the SRC ticket, it is frustrating to hear terrible misuse of the VHF on the water... it would be sensible to have to show your certificate in order to buy a VHF, as that would enforce people to at least understand correct use, albeit not guarantee their adherence!

In some areas, a little more regulation would help!

 

[jhr]

[ QUOTE ]
So there is intelligent life at ofcom after all.

[/ QUOTE ]
Yes - but sadly, it appears he is about to leave..... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Mike_Martin]

Friday in fact!
Mike

 

[Mike_Martin]

Input for the response form I would suggest!
Mike

 

[bendyone]

At last something that could be good.

A reply that could be copied and sent to maat@ofcom.org.uk
You just need to fill in your name in 2 places.

BASIC DETAILS
Consultation title: Consultation on a proposal to reform
ship radio licensing

To (Ofcom contact):Joe Darrell
Name of respondent:
Representing (self or organisation/s): SELF
Address (if not received by email):

CONFIDENTIALITY
What do you want Ofcom to keep confidential?
Nothing

DECLARATION
I confirm that the correspondence supplied with this cover sheet is a formal
consultation response. It can be published in full on Ofcom’s website, unless
otherwise specified on this cover sheet, and I authorise Ofcom to make use of the
information in this response to meet its legal requirements. If I have sent my
response by email, Ofcom can disregard any standard e-mail text about not
disclosing email contents and attachments.
Ofcom seeks to publish responses on receipt. If your response is
non-confidential (in whole or in part), and you would prefer us to publish
your response only once the consultation has ended, please tick here.
Name



Question 1: Do you agree with the proposal to introduce a lighter, electronic
licensing process? If not, please explain why. YES

Question 2: Do you agree with the proposal to issue licences which remain valid for
the life of the vessel? If not, please explain why. YES

Question 3: Do you agree with the proposal to issue electronic ship radio licences
free of charge? If not, please explain why? YES

Question 4: Do you agree with the proposal to apply an administrative charge when
processing postal applications for ship radio licences? If not, please explain why. YES

Question 5: Do you agree that the transfer of licensing to the MCA would not offer
any significant advantage over the existing licensing system? YES

Question 6: Do you agree that WT Act licence exemption for vessels that remain
within UK territorial waters is not currently practical? YES

Question 7: Do you agree that WT Act licence exemption remains a worthwhile long
term objective? If not, please explain why. YES

Question 8: Do you believe that WT Act licence exemption would have an impact on
maritime safety? If so, please explain why. NO

Question 9: Would you prefer to see the current licensing system maintained without
change? If so, please explain why. NO

 

[Rowana]

[ QUOTE ]
Friday in fact!
Mike

[/ QUOTE ]

Then What ??

Hope you've something lined up !

Good luck !

 

[ashanta]

What a refresshing change!

 

[ParaHandy]

there's some background to this in the most recent CA mag which I thought interesting .... going for the licence for life, myself ...

 

[Gunfleet]

Are you being sponsored for working the CA into your posts wherever poss? If so how much? We need to be told.

 

[ParaHandy]

look ma shun .. if ah menshuned miss ellie mcpherson in orra ma posts wid that make youse ony less miserable .... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif and no's ra answer ...

 

[ColdFusion]

It's not very often we hear good news and common sense from a government agency. Must be a general election looming /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[Rowana]

You're very cynical !


True, but still very cynical ! ! !

 

[Mike_Martin]

Ahh but you see he didn't read the post! We were working on this over two years ago.

Mike

 

[GeorgeP]

Mike, looks like a good idea.

 

[BrendanS]

Where do you boat then? Many places I go there is no mobile phone connection. We use the VHF within club events to keep contact and organise events, contacting marinas to make arrangements for moorings etc etc. Thankfully emergency calls are few and far between.

Just because you don't have need to use VHF, doesn't mean that others don't. My biggest complaint are the idiots who have obviously never been on a course, and hog the bandwith talking about irrelevancies