Equinox
New member
Is a separate license required for each VHF unit carried onboard or will one license cover several units on the same yacht (ie one fixed unit and one handheld unit)?
VHF License Requirements
- Thread starter Equinox
- Start date
G
Guest
Guest
If you are in the US and are a citizen....no license is required. Other countries probably have license requirements.
ccscott49
Active member
Your ships radio licence in the UK covers booth, you just have to register the fact you have them on a form when you apply for your licence. You of course also have to have an operators licence, or somebody on board anyway. But Mike Martin, the "boss" of the radio thingy looks at this forum and is very helpful in all things radio licencing etc.
Equinox
New member
If I buy a fixed unit now and a handheld VHF a few months later does it cost extra to have the license updated. Also, does the operators certificate have to be carried onboard at all times?
ccscott49
Active member
Asking the wrong guy now, I don't know about the costs, but the licence has to stay with the ship as well as the operators licence, you may well be asked for it and especially if you go foreign. "Mikes commandos" are searching for non licence holders in the UK!
gtmoore
New member
RE - license upgrade I've just bought a handheld to compliment my fixed set and added it to my license and it was free. You just need to fill in the details on the back of the license form and send it off - mine took about a week to come back.
Regarding carrying the Short Range certificate, not sure but would probably be prudent to do so.
HTH
Gavin
Regarding carrying the Short Range certificate, not sure but would probably be prudent to do so.
HTH
Gavin
Stork_III
Well-known member
Free to add handheld later, or any other licensable equipment, epirb, radar etc.
Operators certificate for whoever is responsible on board for VHF supervision must be kept on board when VHF is in use.
Operators certificate for whoever is responsible on board for VHF supervision must be kept on board when VHF is in use.
Mike_Martin
New member
Hi there,
I have been impressed with nearly all of the answers so far, well done guys.
The British (UK) Ship Radio Licences covers any amount and combination of Maritime RT (including VHF fixed and portables, MF, HF, UHF portables, Inmarsat terminals, Radars, SARTS, EPIRBS and PLBs) equipment on-board the vessel and its tender.
The addition of equipment (or removal) does not affect the fixed fee of £20 per year.
Yes you should carry your Maritime Radio Operators Certificate of Competence so that it is ready for inspection by persons authorised to do so of any administration in whose whaters you find yourself. You must also ensure that it covers the equipment that you have on-board. For example a Short Range Certificate does not allow you to use MF, HF Inmarsat etc.
The US boat thing was slightly disappointing. The category is "Domestic Vessel" (they do the same for "Domestic Aircraft", they also do this in NZ) the criteria are: VHF equipment only, do not leave US Territorial Waters and do not communicate with foreign radio stations (ie vessels or Coast Stations. As soon as you leave these criteria they are required to purchase a Ship Radio Licence and they only have a "commercial" one, which last time I checked was $147.
Does this help?
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
I have been impressed with nearly all of the answers so far, well done guys.
The British (UK) Ship Radio Licences covers any amount and combination of Maritime RT (including VHF fixed and portables, MF, HF, UHF portables, Inmarsat terminals, Radars, SARTS, EPIRBS and PLBs) equipment on-board the vessel and its tender.
The addition of equipment (or removal) does not affect the fixed fee of £20 per year.
Yes you should carry your Maritime Radio Operators Certificate of Competence so that it is ready for inspection by persons authorised to do so of any administration in whose whaters you find yourself. You must also ensure that it covers the equipment that you have on-board. For example a Short Range Certificate does not allow you to use MF, HF Inmarsat etc.
The US boat thing was slightly disappointing. The category is "Domestic Vessel" (they do the same for "Domestic Aircraft", they also do this in NZ) the criteria are: VHF equipment only, do not leave US Territorial Waters and do not communicate with foreign radio stations (ie vessels or Coast Stations. As soon as you leave these criteria they are required to purchase a Ship Radio Licence and they only have a "commercial" one, which last time I checked was $147.
Does this help?
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
ccscott49
Active member
I told you Mike would be lurking somewhere! /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Now you have it from the cuddys mouth!
Equinox
New member
Thanks for the advise Mike. As it happens I expect to be buying my first yacht within the coming months. I already hold a GMDSS GOC cert as I am a Deck Officer within the Merchant Navy.
I was wondering what the process involves when applying for a VHF license, where do I get the application form, what information does the application form require, how long does it take to issue a license and most importantly.....do I have to send off my GMDSS cert when applying for the VHF license?
The reason I ask this is due to the fact that my leave periods are normally 3 weeks long but I am obviously required to carry my GMDSS cert with me when I return to my ship. Also is it possible to hold another cert such as an SRC as well as GMDSS and if so is the SRC cert something I can automatically be granted seeing as I hold a GMDSS cert already?
Your advice is much appreciated.
I was wondering what the process involves when applying for a VHF license, where do I get the application form, what information does the application form require, how long does it take to issue a license and most importantly.....do I have to send off my GMDSS cert when applying for the VHF license?
The reason I ask this is due to the fact that my leave periods are normally 3 weeks long but I am obviously required to carry my GMDSS cert with me when I return to my ship. Also is it possible to hold another cert such as an SRC as well as GMDSS and if so is the SRC cert something I can automatically be granted seeing as I hold a GMDSS cert already?
Your advice is much appreciated.
Mike_Martin
New member
You can either download the form from our website (the specific URL for the form is www.radio.gov.uk/publication/ra_info/ra145.htm) or telephone the Radio Licensing Centre (RLC) on 0870 243 4433.
The application must be processed and sent back to you within 5 working days from receipt at the RLC.
No, you do not have to supply your Operator's Certificate with the application.
Mike
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
The application must be processed and sent back to you within 5 working days from receipt at the RLC.
No, you do not have to supply your Operator's Certificate with the application.
Mike
Manager,
Aeronautical & Maritime Section,
Radiocommunications Agency
