Radio Licence

[pcatterall]

The course I wanted to get on has suddenly filled up so no licence and sailing to France at the end of the month.
Desperatly searching for a new course in the North WEst... any ideas!
What are the implications of just using a handheld in France?

 

[VicS]

The course I wanted to get on has suddenly filled up so no licence and sailing to France at the end of the month.
Desperatly searching for a new course in the North WEst... any ideas!
What are the implications of just using a handheld in France?

You still need the same operators certificate

The radio itself can either be included on the ships licence or you can have a separate Ships Portable Radio licence which is issued to you personally rather than to a specific vessel. In the latter case you don't get a call sign, you get a number with a "T" prefix. It is then licensed to use on any vessel.
You can do both of course. I have a H/H included in my Ship's licence. I also have a "T" licence so that I can use it on any vessel.

AFAIK it is not compulsory to have a VHF to sail to France.. We did not have one at one time.

We only really used it to make link calls back home.....then they were axed. We called some friends out from St Peter port once when we had engine trouble. We called a cross channel ferry once when we got tangled on some fishing gear in its path.
I'ts useful for the CG weather forecasts

 

[TSB240]

The course I wanted to get on has suddenly filled up so no licence and sailing to France at the end of the month.
Desperatly searching for a new course in the North WEst... any ideas!
What are the implications of just using a handheld in France?

We were there for three weeks last year. Never needed to use the radio once. In fact I am sorry to say that the continuous DSC alerts put out by the CG meant we might forget to turn it on quite a lot! . Very bad practice I know

Most of the ports operate little ribs which come over to you as soon as you approach.

 

[bedouin]

Make sure you have a licence for the radio on the ship - then you should be fine.

Technically you need to SRC certificate to operate the radio other than in an emergency - but they are hardly likely to get for that.

 

[RestlessL]

You can do both of course. I have a H/H included in my Ship's licence. I also have a "T" licence so that I can use it on any vessel.

The Ship Portable Radio ("T") licence is only valid for use in UK water.

J

 

[VicS]

The Ship Portable Radio ("T") licence is only valid for use in UK water.

J

I did not know that, or at least had forgotten.

It's clearly stated on the first page!

Thanks for pointing it out

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks guys. Sorted with a course at Liverpool.

 

[VicS]

Good luck.

Get at least the RYA booklets to study beforehand . Tim Bartlett's VHF Handbook might be a worthwhile acquisition too.