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 shipboard Radio Equipment
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.
Radio Equipment For Recreation Boats
- Sailing - Water Skiing
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.
Maritime Radio Equipment
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).
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 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 announcing the new procedures for
private entities to issue MMSIs
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.
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.
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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