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Ships' Radio Licensing update 1 December 2006

The online licensing system

Ofcom’s new online radio licensing system is now live. You can apply for a user account for the licensing system by registering your details at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/

Having registered, your username will be sent to you by post. It will then be possible to use the online licensing system in order to apply for a free, "lifetime" Ship Radio licence or a Ship Portable Radio licence, or to amend, validate, or surrender your licence.

If you wish to reinstate a callsign or MMSI it will be necessary for you to use a paper application form. It will also be necessary to use the paper application form if you wish to change the name that appears on your licence. This paper application/amendment form can be downloaded at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/maritime/applications/

Applicants will incur a £20 fee for each paper based "lifetime" licence application. There is currently no charge for amending, validating or surrendering a licence.

" ( If you already hold a valid annual licence (i.e. you are an existing licensee) you will automatically receive a new lifetime licence by post free of charge. It is intended that you will receive your replacement lifetime licence a few weeks before your old (annual) licence is due to expire. You will not be required to pay for this new licence. If you prefer, you can still register your details as described above and edit your licence without making any changes, or if necessary, change your existing details. However, in both cases, your licence will be changed as a result and you will need to print the new version - you will not receive your new licence by post. Subsequent communications will then normally be by e-mail, particularly in relation to sending you your five year validation reminder request.) "

The "lifetime" ship radio licence

The new "lifetime" licence will remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until such time as the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. There is no end date on the "lifetime" ship radio licence but Ofcom will revoke the licence unless the licence is either amended or validated at least once every 10 years.

Although the licence "disc" is no longer issued, the licence, relevant Maritime Radio Operator’s Certificate of Competence and valid Authority to operate must be kept with or near to the licensed radio equipment where it is physically practicable to do so. These documents must accompany the radio equipment when the vessel is taken abroad.

A sample of the new "lifetime" licence is available at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/licensing/classes/maritime/information/

The UK Interface Requirements which details high level technical parameters for ship radio equipment is available at the following address:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radiocomms/ifi/tech/interface_req/

If you already hold a valid annual licence you will automatically receive a new lifetime licence by post free of charge. See also related text above under "The online licensing system".

If you have previously set up an automatic payment for your ship radio licence (such as a Direct Debit or Standing Order for example) this fee will not be collected and we urge you to cancel any such arrangements.

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