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VHF Licensing
The primary purpose of maritime radio is to ensure the safety of life and vessels at sea.
To maintain orderly communication and prevent unnecessary interference, the international Radio Regulations govern the radio spectrum worldwide.
For vessels owned by UK citizens or registered in the UK, the following requirements apply to all maritime radio equipment:
Comprehensive details on these requirements can be found in the Ofcom booklet Ship Radio Information.
A Ship Radio Licence is required whenever any radio equipment is carried onboard a vessel. If you intend to use a portable handheld VHF or DSC VHF on more than one vessel, you need a Ship Portable Radio Licence instead.
A Ship Radio Licence specifies the equipment covered and should be updated whenever changes are made onboard. If you have an Active Radar Target Enhancer or an ATIS-capable VHF on board, you must request a variation to your Ship Radio Licence, as these items are not listed among the licensable equipment options.
Equipment that typically requires a Ship Radio Licence includes, but is not limited to:
- Fixed or portable VHF or VHF/DSC Radio
- MF/HF Radio equipment
- AIS transponder
- EPIRB or PLB
- Satellite Communications (SES) equipment
- SART (Search and Rescue Transponder)
- Radar
A Ship Portable Radio Licence is suitable if you intend to use a handheld VHF on multiple vessels within UK territorial waters.
The call sign issued with a Ship Portable Radio Licence, identified by a T-number, is not recognized internationally by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and it only permits use in UK territorial waters.
While the licence does not explicitly prohibit use on the high seas, such use may conflict with international regulations, especially near the territorial waters of other countries.
Radio usage in the territorial waters of other countries is subject to their respective regulations and approvals. Therefore, even if a vessel is equipped solely with a handheld VHF, both a Ship Radio Licence and an international call sign are necessary for operation.
A draft standard known as the UK Interface Requirement has been developed to enable Ofcom to approve the use of handheld VHF DSC sets in UK territorial waters. Consequently, handheld VHF DSC sets that comply with this standard can now be individually licensed under a UK Ship Portable Radio Licence.
Currently, this licensing authority does not extend to permitting use outside UK territorial waters. However, Ofcom has submitted this matter to the European Commission for consideration by other Member States. In the interim, recognising handheld VHF DSC as a critical safety tool, especially for small boat operators, Ofcom is proceeding with authorising the use of compliant sets within UK territorial waters.
Vessel call signs are assigned upon the initial application for a Ship Radio Licence for that vessel. This call sign remains unchanged despite changes in ownership or vessel name, unless the vessel ceases to be registered in the UK, is destroyed, or remains unlicensed for two or more years.
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) numbers are issued exclusively when a vessel is equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and/or Ship Earth Station (SES) equipment. MMSI allocation occurs during the application for a new Ship Radio Licence or when modifying existing equipment on a licensed vessel.
Programming a handheld DSC set with an MMSI allocated from the Ship Radio Licence, except for those starting with 2359xxxxx, is unauthorised and therefore illegal under the Ship Radio (or Ship Portable Radio) Licence.
A handheld VHF with DSC should be licensed under a Ship Portable Radio Licence and programmed with the authorised MMSI starting with 2359xxxxx.
Ofcom is mandated to maintain a record of licensed vessels and their equipment in the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS) database.
Since EPIRBs function as radio transmitters, they must be licensed under the Ship Radio Licence. Additionally, registering EPIRBs with the MCA EPIRB Registry is crucial to ensure Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC) have necessary information for effective search and rescue operations when an EPIRB is activated.
In the UK, it’s important to note that MMSI numbers are not issued to EPIRBs.
Operating a VHF radio without a maritime radio operator’s certificate is not recommend. You can monitor the radio transmission in safety situations or the basic’s of calling for help during distress. It is recommended having the training and gaining your personal licence, as this will give you the correct procedure and confidence for general operation transmissions and correct usage to maximise help opportunities in distress.
Only licensed operators or those under direct supervision of a licensed operator may make general transmissions.
The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the standard operator’s certification covering VHF and VHF/DSC equipment, obtainable through RYA recognised training centres.
For MF, HF, and satellite communications equipment, the Long Range Certificate (LRC) is required. AMERC administers the LRC and can be contacted at Tel: 01539 440218.
