GMDSS General

[Iamspartacus]

Hi All,

I reached early retirement late last year and spent a lot more time on the water than I have been able to for years.

As a consequence I’m looking to purchase something larger (and newer ?) in time for next season.

I’ve shortlisted a Jeanneau Odyssey 42CC, which is fitted with a SSB radio and pactor modem, which leads me to my question.

I’m ex merchant navy and hold a GMDSS general license, which I gained at Fleetwood nautical college some years ago now.

The general license is obviously a SOLAS requirement for commercial vessels, and is internationally recognised.

However, things don’t seem to be clear when it comes to using HF SSB for pleasure craft purposes. I’m seeing all sorts of conflicting licensing requirements depending on the coastal earth station selected for use.

Whilst I get the impression that a lot of people use SSB without any certification at all, I would actually want to be covered.

So can anyone confirm whether the GMDSS certification would also be recognised globally for recreational purposes?

 

[obmij]

Struggling to think of any reason a GOC wouldn't be valid on a pleasure vessel but I suppose AMERC would give you a definitive answer.

 

[Daverw]

I would give ofcom a call, they are very helpful

 

[moomba]

you could try OFCOM for more info
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your-licence/radiocommunication-licences/online-licensing-service

 

[jdc]

The LRC is a subset of the merchant navy GOC so your certificate should be entirely valid.

However, as the OP notes many owners of SSB equipment don't bother with either. As someone who does have the LRC let me try to explain.

1. In 11 years I've had the SSB radio and the certificate I've never transmitted on a marine frequency (so covered by the LRC). It's simply dead. Nobody is talking, nobody is listening and what's the point. Herb is sadly no more and it's just silent.

2. If I ever use it, I just listen. I may be getting wether faxes or ice reports. There's no licence needed.

3. In so far as I transmit it's always on amateur bands (yes, I got an amateur licence). OK they are boring, radio procedure is pants - S for sugar, G for Germany etc, and they are mostly doing some entirely pointless 'DX' sh*t, but at least they are using the spectrum. I have set up private nets or schedules with specific amateurs to exchange info or keep loved ones at home informed of one's whereabouts but apart form this why bother?

So a GOC is probably not useful or relevant for yachts. Actually, I suspect not for ships anymore.

 

[prv]

I believe the US doesn’t require radio operators on leisure vessels under its flag to have certificates of competence - this might be the source of some of your conflicting information.

The UK absolutely does require operator certs, and I get the impression that the majority of people spending the money to fit HF do want to do things properly and get the ticket to match. For UK yotties that’s generally the “Long Range Certificate”; I’m not familiar with the HF licensing regime but I would have thought your merchant marine ticket would be more than acceptable too.

Edit: The bit about depending on “ground station selection” might be mixing in some additional confusion between maritime radio (what you used at sea) and ham radio, which is also used by some long-distance cruisers for casual chat and is a completely separate set of frequencies and licensing regime.

Pete

 

[RobbieW]

I'm guessing you've found links to Sailmail and Winlink.

Very broadly, the Winlink ham service is only available to qualified ham operators since you need a registered ham callsign to connect. In the UK, to operate offshore requires the Advanced ham licence which quite academic since the assumption is that you'll build the base station. Accessing Winlink is free and your local ham group may be able to help you get the licence but its not covered by your GOC which is restricted to specific frequencies.

Sailmail is a subscription service that doesnt require the ham callsign to connect but I dont know if the frequencies would be legal for a GOC operator. Essentially, iirc, the GOC is 'dumbed down' as marine sets use 'canned' frequency settings whereas ham operators with a ham set can choose a wider set of frequency options

Please note that this is from memory from about 10 years ago, I've not gone back to check so could be wrong