FCC Marine Radio Station License

[DMCI]

Just before I quit boating 10 or more years ago, the FCC raise license fees to the point they were prohibitive. Seems the CG noticed that the number of "Volunteer Stations" began to drop causing a saftey lapse in their veiw. So they have modified the rules to affect this positively. Apparently no FCC call sign is required except your boat name.

Note that operators are still required to follow the rules at some peril to their personal wealth. (eg no chit chat on channel 16.)

This is very good news, but may require some precruise work by the club leadership.

Here is a summary for your information:

You do not need a license to operate a marine VHF radio, radar, or EPIRBs aboard voluntary ships operating domestically. 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. 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.

Ships required to carry an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transceiver by the U.S. Coast Guard regulations enacted pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2000.

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.

[Helmar]

I am not surprised that this happened. I am not even surprised in how long it takes them to figure it out.

Most things governmental can be figured out. Just put a dollar sign in front of the issue at hand. :Runaway1:

yep, running out of money to waste, let them care for themselves ...:BigWink1:

[DMCI]

Instructions
1
First you should understand that channel sixteen is used for calling other vessels (then switch to a working channel) and for emergency communications. Do not have conversations on channel sixteen our request a radio check.
Once you have made contact switch to a recreational working channel such as 68, 69, 71, 72, or 78 to have your conversation.

2

CHANNEL 22A or 22 Alpha is the primary working channel the Coast Guard uses for communication with the boating public and this is where severe weather warnings, hazards to navigation, and other maritime warnings are broadcast by the Coast Guard. A message may be broadcast on channel 16 to switch to 22A for a detailed message.

3


CHANNEL 13 is the navigation and piloting channel. Most Locks and bridges monitor channel 13, and it must be used for navigation and piloting purposes only.

CHANNEL 6 is a ship-to-ship frequency used for safety-related communications.

Don't think of your marine radio as a CB radio. Enforcement of proper use can include hefty fines, especially for false distress calls.
Remember that you may cost someone else their life if they are trying to make a distress call and you are chit chatting on channel 16 and you cause the Coast Guard to not hear their faint distress call.

4
Marine VHF radios often have a feature called DSC or Digital Select Calling. This feature allows DSC enabled radios to call another DSC enabled radio if you know their identifying number. Once contact is made through a DSC message you can switch to a working channel. This avoids having to make calls on channel 16.

What Channels to Use



Channel 16 and its supplemental channel 9 are the hailing channels for recreational and noncommercial vessels. Both channel 16 and channel 9 are also used to report an emergency. Radio traffic on these channels is used to hail other ships to chose a working channel for a conversation. Recreational vessels use channel 68 for non-emergency boat-to-boat communication. Channel 13 is for navigation only and is used to communicate passing, overtaking or meeting other ships. This is also the working channel at locks and drawbridges. Channel 6 is for safety only, such as search-and-rescue messages. Working, or commercial, ships use 8, 67, 72 and 88. Digital selective calling uses channel 70 for distress calls, safety calls and hailing calls.


Using the Marine Radio

To use the marine radio, tune to channel 16, say the name of the station you are calling three times. Say "This is" then the name of your boat and your call sign, if you have a license. Then, say the word "over." Other boaters will answer the same way. After they answer, suggest the working channel to move to and say "over." Wait for the reply, switch to the new channel and repeat the process