Ship Radio Stations
The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which became law on
February 8, 1996, brought about fundamental changes in the licensing of ship radio stations. This
page contains information on radios that may be used aboard a ship, which ship radio stations
must be licensed by the FCC, and how to use your marine VHF radio.
 General Information
about the Service
Do I need a ship radio
station license?
Do I need a restricted
radiotelephone operator permit?
How to get a license
(if you need one)
How to operate your
marine VHF radio
FCC information (Forms,
Fees, Rules)
Rule changes affecting boaters with radio
A shipboard radio station includes all the transmitting and
receiving equipment installed aboard a ship for communications afloat. Depending on the size,
purpose, or destination of a ship, its radio station must meet certain requirements established
by law or treaty. For example, large passenger or cargo ships that travel on the open sea are
required by the Communications Act and by international agreements to be equipped with a radio
station for long distance radio communications. Passenger ships that travel along the coast must
be able to communicate at shorter range with coast stations. These are examples of "compulsory
ships" because they are required or compelled by treaty or statute to be equipped with specified
telecommunications equipment.
Smaller ships used for recreation (e.g., sailing, diving,
sport fishing, water skiing) are not required to have radio stations installed but they
may be so equipped by choice. These ships are known as "voluntary ships" because they are not
required by treaty or statute to carry a radio but voluntarily fit some of the same equipment
used by compulsory ships.
Ship stations may communicate with other ship stations or
coast stations primarily for safety, and secondarily for navigation and operational efficiency.
The FCC regulates marine communications in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, which monitors
marine distress frequencies continuously to protect life and property. All users of marine radio,
whether voluntary or compulsory, are responsible for observing both FCC and Coast Guard
requirements.
The maritime mobile and maritime mobile satellite radio
equipment listed below may be used aboard a ship. If your ship must be licensed, all equipment is
authorized under a single ship radio station license.
VHF Radiotelephone (156-162 MHz) -
Used for voice communications with other ships and coast stations over short distances.
Digital Selective Calling (DSC) -
Used with VHF, MF, and HF radio systems to establish communications with (call) ships or coast
stations or to receive calls from other ships or coast stations. Uses two tone digital signaling
protocol to selectively call a particular station or to call a group of stations, all stations in
a particular geographic area, or to call all stations.
Radar - Used
for navigating, direction-finding, locating positions, and ship traffic control.
EPIRB -
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, or EPIRB's, are used when a ship is in distress, to
emit a radio signal marking the ship's location. Extreme care must be taken to prevent
inadvertent activation and batteries should be replaced prior to expiration date.
Single sideband Radiotelephone (2-27.5 MHz) -
Used to communicate over medium and long distances (hundreds, sometime thousands of nautical
miles).
Satellite Radio -
Used to communicate by means of voice, data or direct printing via satellites.
Radiotelegraph -
Used to communicate by means of Morse code facsimile, or narrow-band direct-printing, any
technique for coding and decoding printed text over radio.
Survival Craft Radio -
Used only for communications during distress incidents between ship and rescue
vessels/aircraft or between lifeboats and rafts.
On Board Radio -
These are low-powered radios used for internal voice communications on board a ship or for
authorized short range communications directly associated with ship operations.
In addition, ships may use GPS or LORAN receivers, depth
finders, citizens band (CB) radios, or amateur radios (an amateur license from the FCC is
required).
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Do I Need a Ship Radio Station License?
On October 26, 1996, the FCC released a Report and
Order in WT Docket No. 96-82, FCC 96-421 (text,
WordPerfect), eliminating the individual
licensing requirement for voluntary ships operating domestically which are not required by law to
carry a radio. The paragraphs below describe how the rules affect the maritime public.
WHO NEEDS A SHIP STATION LICENSE?
You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio,
radar, or EPIRB's aboard voluntary ships operating domestically. The terms "voluntary" and
"domestic" are defined below. Although a license is no longer required for these ships, you may
still obtain a license (and call sign) by following the procedures outlined in Section IV.
WHICH SHIPS ARE VOLUNTARY?
The term "voluntary ships" refers to ships that are not
required by law to carry a radio. Generally, this term applies to recreation or pleasure craft.
In any event, the term "voluntary ships" does not apply to the following:
-
Cargo ships over 300 gross tons navigating in the open
sea;
-
Ships certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more
than 6 passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the U.S.;
-
Power driven ships over 20 meters in length on navigable
waterways;
-
Ships of more than 100 gross tons certified by the U.S.
Coast Guard to carry at least one passenger on navigable waterways;
-
Tow boats of more than 7.8 meters in length on navigable
waterways; and,
-
Uninspected commercial fishing industry vessels required
to carry a VHF radio.
WHAT IS DOMESTIC OPERATION?
Ships are considered as operating domestically when they do
not travel to foreign ports or do not transmit radio communications to foreign stations. Sailing
in international waters is permitted, so long as the previous conditions are met. If you travel
to a foreign port (e.g., Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands) a license is required.
Additionally, if you travel to a foreign port, you are required to have an operator permit as
described in Section III.
WHAT RADIO EQUIPMENT MAY I USE?
You do not need a license to use marine VHF radios, any
type of EPIRB, any type of radar, GPS or LORAN receivers, depth finders, CB radio, or amateur
radio (an amateur license is required). Ships that use MF/HF single side-band radio, satellite
communications, or telegraphy must continue to be licensed by the FCC. On April 17, 1996, the
U.S. Coast Guard suspended enforcement activities concerning FCC Radio Station Licenses carried
aboard voluntary ships.
WHAT IF I HAVE A MARINE RADIO WITH DIGITAL
SELECTIVE CALLING (DSC) CAPABILITY?
You must obtain a nine-digit maritime mobile service
identity (MMSI) and have it programmed into the unit before you transmit. Each vessel needs only
one MMSI. Prior to obtaining an MMSI, you will be asked to provide certain information about your
ship. It is important that you obtain an MMSI because the U.S. Coast Guard uses this information
to help speed search and rescue operations.
If your vessel requires licensing by the FCC you will
obtain an MMSI during the application/licensing process when you file
FCC Form 159 and
605 with the FCC.
If your vessel does not require a license you may obtain an
MMSI by contacting either
BoatUS,
Sea Tow Service
International, Inc., or
MariTEL.
The contact information is contained in the Public Notice
(text
- Word)
announcing the new procedures for private entities to issue MMSIs
Commission Announces Agreement Among Sea Tow Service International, Inc., the United States Coast
Guard and the FCC to Assign Maritime Mobile Service Identities
pdf
If your vessel requires licensing by the FCC after
you have obtained an MMSI from BoatUS, MariTEL or Sea Tow Service that MMSI cannot be used during
the application/licensing process when you file
FCC Form 159 and
605 with the FCC. MMSIs issued
by other authorized entities are valid only for ship stations that do not have FCC-issued
licenses. Since the ULS will not accept the MMSI that was issued by another entity, you should
not enter anything in item 10 on FCC Form 605, Schedule B. Leave this field blank and the FCC
will issue you a new MMSI.
SHOULD I RENEW MY LICENSE?
If you operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or EPIRB's aboard
a voluntary ship operating domestically, you are not required to apply for a new license or renew
your current license. Although a license is no longer required for these ships, you may still
renew your license and retain your call sign by following the procedures outlined in Section IV.
WHAT OPERATING PROCEDURES SHOULD I FOLLOW?
Even though a station license may no longer be required,
you must continue to follow the operating procedures for calling other stations, maintaining a
safety watch, and relaying distress messages as specified in the FCC Rules. A summary of these
rules for the use of marine VHF radios is included in Section V of this Fact Sheet. You may
identify your ship station over the air using your FCC-issued call sign, maritime mobile service
identity (MMSI), the state registration number or official number of your ship, or the name of
your ship.
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Do I Need a Restricted Radiotelephone
Operator Permit?
If you plan to dock in a foreign port (e.g., Canada or the
Bahamas) or if you communicate with foreign coast or ship stations, you must have a RESTRICTED
RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR PERMIT (sometimes referred to by boaters as an "individual license") in
addition to your ship radio station license. Section IV outlines the procedure for obtaining a
permit. However, if (1) you merely plan to sail in domestic or international waters without
docking in any foreign ports and without communicating with foreign coast stations, and (2) your
radio operates only on VHF frequencies, you do not need an operator permit.
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How do I get a License?
HOW DO I OBTAIN A SHIP RADIO STATION LICENSE?
Obtain FCC Forms
159 and
605 (see
Section VI) and file them with the FCC. The FCC will mail the license to you
and it will be valid for ten years. Don't forget to sign and date your application and include
any applicable fees, otherwise it may be returned.
HOW DO I OBTAIN A RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE
OPERATOR PERMIT?
Obtain FCC Form
159 and
605 (see
Section VI) and file it with the FCC. You do not need to take a test to obtain
this permit. The FCC will mail the permit to you and it will be valid for your lifetime. Don't
forget to sign and date your application and include any applicable fees, otherwise it may be
returned.
MAY I OPERATE A MARINE RADIO WHILE MY APPLICATIONS
ARE BEING PROCESSED?
You may operate your marine radio after you have mailed
your application(s) to the FCC so long as you fill out, detach, and retain the temporary
operating authority attached to the application form. The temporary operating authority is valid
for 90 days after you mail your application to the FCC and should be kept with your station
records until you receive your license/permit through the mail.
HOW DO I MAKE CHANGES DURING MY LICENSE TERM?
If you change your mailing address, legal name, ship name,
ship official number, or state registration number you must complete
FCC Form 605 for Administrative
Update. There is no fee required. No action is required when you add or replace a transmitter
that operates in the same frequency band.
Send your completed form to:
Federal Communications Commission
1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.
HOW DO I RENEW MY LICENSE?
The FCC will send you a Renewal Reminder Notice
approximately 120 days prior to the expiration date of your license.
You must submit FCC Form 605
along with the proper payment to renew your license.
If you send an application for renewal before your current
license expires, you may continue to operate until the FCC acts on your application. You do not
need a temporary permit but you should keep a copy of the renewal application you send the FCC.
You must stop transmitting as soon as your license expires,
unless you have already sent your renewal application to the FCC.
WHAT DO I DO IF MY LICENSE HAS EXPIRED?
If your station license has expired, you must complete FCC
Forms 159 and
605 for a NEW station license.
There is NO grace period. You may use the temporary operating authority (FCC Form 605A) to
operate your marine radio while your application is being processed.
WHAT DO I DO IF I LOSE MY LICENSE OR PERMIT?
If you lose your license, you must request a duplicate in
writing. For a duplicate SHIP STATION LICENSE, you must complete FCC Forms
159 and
605. There are no provisions
for issuing duplicate restricted radiotelephone operator permits. If you need to replace a lost
permit, you must apply for a new one using FCC Forms
159 and
605. There are fees required
for requesting a duplicate license or a new permit.
WHAT MUST I DO IF I SELL MY SHIP?
If you sell your ship, you must file
FCC Form 605 requesting
cancellation to:
Federal Communications Commission
1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245.
You cannot transfer your SHIP STATION LICENSE to another
person or ship. The new owner cannot modify your license, but must apply for a NEW license.
If you have a RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR PERMIT,
you should retain it for future use since it is authorized for your lifetime.
HOW DO I LICENSE A FLEET OF SHIPS?
Under certain conditions, two or more ships having a common
owner or operator may be issued a fleet license for operation of all ship radio stations aboard
the ships in the fleet. This allows an applicant to file a single
FCC Form 605 for multiple
ships. The total fee due for the fleet license, however, is the fee due for a single license
multiplied by the total number of ships in the fleet. You must retain a copy of the fleet license
with the station records on each ship.
MAY I USE MY RADIO ON MORE THAN ONE SHIP?
If you can provide justification for the use of a single
transmitter from two or more ships, a portable ship station license may be issued. This could
authorize various types of marine radio equipment to be carried from ship to ship.
MAY I USE MY HAND-HELD MARINE VHF RADIO ON LAND?
You must have a special license, called a marine utility
station license, to operate a hand-held marine radio from land -- a ship station license IS NOT
sufficient. You may apply for this license by filing
FCC Form 601 with the FCC. To
be eligible for a marine utility station license, you must generally provide some sort of service
to ships or have control over a bridge or waterway. Additionally, you must show a need to
communicate using hand-held portable equipment from both a ship and from coast locations. Each
unit must be capable of operation while being hand-carried by an individual. The station operates
under the rules applicable to ship stations when the unit is aboard a ship, and under the rules
applicable to private coast stations when the unit is on land.
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How to Operate your Marine VHF Radio
WHAT TYPES OF MARINE VHF RADIOS ARE ACCEPTABLE?
The power output of your radio must not be more than 25
watts. You must also be able to lower the power of your radio to one watt or less. Your radio
must be able to transmit on 156.8 MHz (Channel 16), 156.3 MHz (Channel 6) and at least one other
channel. Your radio must be type accepted or certified by the FCC. You can tell a type accepted
radio by the FCC ID label on the radio. You may look at a list of acceptable radios at any FCC
field office, FCC headquarters, or FCC Web Site.
MAY I INSTALL AND SERVICE MY MARINE VHF RADIO BY
MYSELF?
You may install your radio in your ship by yourself. All
internal repairs or adjustments to your radio must be made by or under the supervision of an
FCC-licensed technician holding at least a General Radiotelephone Operator License. It is
recommended that the radio be inspected by the service person when installed.
WHAT MARINE VHF CHANNELS MAY I USE?
The marine VHF channels are divided into operational
categories, based on the types of messages that are appropriate for each channel, and are
available for the shared use of all boaters. You must choose a channel which is available for the
type of message you want to send. Except where noted, channels are available for both
ship-to-ship and ship-to-coast messages.
The document
Marine VHF Radio Channels
contains a list of the marine VHF channels and their designated uses. The channels listed in the
table are the only channels you may use, even if your radio has more channels available.
HOW DO I MAKE A CALL USING VOICE CALLING on VHF?
Maintain your watch.
Whenever your boat is underway, the radio must be turned on and be tuned to Channel 16 except
when being used for messages.
Power. Try one watt first if
the station being called is within a few miles. If there is no answer, you may switch to higher
power.
Calling coast stations. Call
a coast station on its assigned channel. You may use Channel 16 when you do not know the assigned
channel.
Calling other ships. Call
other ships on Channel 16. You may call on ship-to-ship channels when you know that the ship is
listening on both a ship-to-ship channel and Channel 16. NOTE: To do this the ship has to have
two separate receivers.
Limits on calling. You must
not call the same station for more than 30 seconds at a time. If you do not get a reply, wait at
least two minutes before calling again. After three calling periods, wait at least 15 minutes
before calling again.
Change channels. After
contacting another station on Channel 16, change immediately to a channel which is available for
the type of message you want to send.
Station identification.
Identify, in English, your station by your FCC call sign, ship name, the state registration
number or official number at the beginning and end of each message.
WHAT COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROHIBITED?
YOU MUST NOT TRANSMIT --
-
False distress or emergency messages.
-
Messages containing obscene, indecent, or profane words
or meaning.
-
General calls, signals, or messages on channel 16, except
in an emergency or if you are testing your radio (these are messages not addressed to a
particular station), or
-
When your ship is on land (for example, while the ship is
on a trailer).
DO I HAVE TO KEEP A RADIO LOG?
You do not have to keep a radio log.
DO I NEED A COPY OF THE RULES?
Voluntary boaters are not required to keep a copy of the
FCC's rules. Regardless of whether or not you have a copy of the rules, however, you are
responsible for compliance. If you would like a copy of the rules, refer to Section VI.
DO I HAVE TO MAKE MY SHIP STATION AVAILABLE FOR
INSPECTION?
Your station and your station records (station license and
operator license or permit, if required) must be shown when requested by an authorized FCC
representative.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I VIOLATE THE RULES?
If it appears to the FCC that you have violated the
Communications Act or the rules, the FCC may send you a written notice of the apparent violation.
If the violation notice covers a technical radio standard, you must stop using your radio. You
must not use your radio until you have had all the technical problems fixed. You may have to
report the results of those tests to the FCC. Test results must be signed by the commercial
operator who conducted the test. If the FCC finds that you have willfully or repeatedly violated
the Communications Act or the rules, your authorization to use the radio may be revoked and you
may be fined or sent to prison.
HOW DO I CALL ANOTHER SHIP USING VOICE CALLING?
-
Make sure your radio is on.
-
Speak directly into the microphone in a normal tone of
voice -- clearly -- distinctly.
-
Select Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) and listen to make sure it
is not being used. NOTE: Channel 9 (156.45 MHz) may be used by recreational vessels for
general-purpose calling. This frequency should be used whenever possible to relieve congestion
on Channel 16.
-
When the channel is quiet, press the microphone button
and call the ship you wish to call. Say "[name of ship being called] THIS IS [your ship's name
and call sign (if applicable)]."
-
Once contact is made on Channel 16, you must switch to a
ship-to-ship channel. The ship-to- ship channels are listed in the chart on page 6 of this Fact
Sheet.
-
After communications are completed, each ship must give
its call sign or ship name and switch to Channel 16.
HOW DO I CALL ANOTHER SHIP USING DSC?
Ships whose radios are fitted with DSC will be watching VHF
Channel 70, as well as Channel 16. Channel 70 is exclusively used for digital selective calling.
The DSC is equipped with appropriate alarms to announce that a call has been received. Your radio
operators manual should describe all of the available features and procedures for making and
receiving calls. Generally, you must know the MMSI number of the ship that you want to call, but
if you suspect that the ship has DSC you can send an all ships call using low power first to a
geographic area which only includes the intended vessel (coordinates are selected by operator
prior to sending the call, check operators manual). When you are in distress you can send a
distress call to all stations. Other ships will acknowledge the call only after waiting to see if
a coast station answers first. These acknowledgements will be on Channel 16. Only if no coast
station has answered your call within a few minutes will another ship answer.
Certain cautions should be observed.
Do not send a distress call as a test. Severe penalties can
result if false distress alerts are transmitted and not cancelled by the appropriate procedure.
Do not under any circumstances transmit a DSC distress
relay call on receipt of a DSC distress alert from another ship on VHF or MF channels. In this
case, you must listen on Channel 16 for 5 minutes. If no acknowledgement is noticed or no traffic
is heard, acknowledge the alert by radiotelephony on Channel 16 and inform the RCC (Coast Radio
Station, or Coast Guard).
HOW DO I PLACE A CALL THROUGH A PUBLIC COAST
STATION?
Boaters may make and receive telephone calls to and from
any telephone with access to the nationwide telephone network by utilizing the services of Public
Coast Stations. Calls can be made to other ships or telephones on land, sea, and in the air.
MAKING SHIP TO SHORE CALLS
-
Select the public correspondence channel desired.
-
LISTEN to see if the channel is busy (i.e., speech,
signaling tones, or busy signal).
-
If not busy, say, for example, "Pleasure craft [name of
ship] calling [name of Public Coast Station] on Channel XX.
-
If busy, wait until the channel clears or switch to
another channel.
-
When a coast station operator answers, say, "This is
[name of ship and ships phone or billing number if assigned] placing a call to [city and phone
number desired]." Give the operator billing information. If billing information for your ship
has not been registered, the operator will ask for additional identification for billing
purposes.
-
At completion of call say, "[Name of ship] OUT."
RECEIVING SHORE TO SHIP CALLS
To receive public Coast Station calls on VHF-FM
frequencies, the receiver must be in operation on the proper channel. Coast stations will call on
156.8 MHz (channel 16) unless you have Ringer Service (which requires a second receiver).
SHIP TO SHIP CALLS
Contacts between ships are normally made directly but you
can go through your coast station using the same procedure as ship to shore calls.
WHAT ARE THE MARINE EMERGENCY SIGNALS?
The three spoken international emergency signals are:
MAYDAY
PANPAN
SECURITE
When using an international emergency signal, the
appropriate signal is to be spoken three times prior to the message.
You must give any message beginning with one of these
signals priority over routine messages.
WHAT IS THE MARINE DISTRESS PROCEDURE?
-
Speak slowly -- clearly -- calmly.
-
Make sure your radio is on.
-
Select VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz).
-
Press microphone button and say: "MAYDAY --MAYDAY--
MAYDAY."
-
Say "THIS IS [your ship ID]."
-
Say "MAYDAY [your ship name]."
-
Tell where you are: (what navigational aids or landmarks
are near).
-
State the nature of your distress
-
Give number of persons aboard and conditions of any
injured.
-
Estimate present seaworthiness of your ship.
-
Briefly describe your ship (meters, type, color, hull).
-
Say: I will be listening on Channel 16."
-
End message by saying "THIS IS [your ship name or call
sign] OVER."
-
Release microphone button and listen. Someone should
answer. If not, repeat call, beginning at Item 3 above.
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FCC Information (Forms, Fees, Rules)
FORMS
-
FCC Forms Distribution Center (800) 418-FORM (3676)
-
FCC Fax-On-Demand system -- call (202) 418-0177 from the
handset of your fax machine. Follow the recorded instructions to have FCC Form 159 (document
retrieval number 3000159), FCC Form 605 (document retrieval number 3060500), or FCC Form 605
(document retrieval number 3000605) sent directly to your fax machine.
-
For downloading at
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html.
FEES
RULES
All details concerning radio service eligibility,
application procedures, operating requirements, and equipment standards can be found in the
FCC Rules. Voluntary ships
are not required to carry a copy of the rules.
Maritime Service Rules -
47 C.F.R. Part 80
Operator License Rules -
47 C.F.R. Part 13
The rules are available for a fee from the
Government
Printing Office at (202) 512-1803.
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