I would like to begin this issue of Airwaves by apologising to any of you that have been inconvenienced by the transfer of the licensing contract to the Radio Licensing Centre (RLC) of the Post Office. However, I am happy to report that all of the difficulties have now been overcome and the RLC is able to achieve the levels of service expected from them.
The contract started at the beginning of the financial year and as a result the RLC started handling this work at the start of the "boating season". This has meant that they have been extremely busy dealing with new applications as well as handling the transfer and as a result many of you have had difficulty getting through to them. The RLC has a limited number of phone lines and was receiving around 350 telephone calls a day.
As mentioned previously, I am confident that we have now overcome our initial problems and you will have already started to see the high level of service that you have come to expect from the Agency. Many of you will have already heard that the annual fee for the licence has been reduced to £20 (see article for details). I can also report that new facilities requested by licensees in the past, such as credit card payments, Direct Debit renewals and the ability to fax applications to the RLC are now available. However, licensees are reminded that an application sent by fax will not take precedence over applications already in the queue as RLC must work on a "first come first served basis" to ensure fairness. The target time for the turn-around is 5 working days from receipt at the RLC of a correctly completed application form accompanied by the correct payment.
I am also pleased to report that we are now able to re-introduce processing of applications, renewals and amendments at the major UK Boat Shows (London and Southampton). This will start with the Southampton Boat Show in September 2000. I know that many of you have found this service very useful in the past. However, if you do wish to make use of the service, please bring your documentation with you.
Stephen Hand
Manager
Aeronautical & Maritime Services.
The introduction of Spectrum Pricing for radio licensing has enabled the Agency to review many of its licence fees. As the majority of assignments within the spectrum used for Maritime radio are on an internationally shared basis there was limited scope for the Agency to apply administration pricing.
In fact the Agency has been able to reduce the annual ship radio licence fee from £22.00 to £20.00. The introduction of the fee was made easier to justify due to the Agency's successful publicity and enforcement campaigns aimed at maritime radio users during the past year. As a result of these exercises the ship radio licence population has increased substantially.
The fee change proposals were published on the Agency's website along with those in other sectors. The changes were set into Regulations that were laid before Parliament at the end of June 2000 and came into force on the 19 July 2000.
All Ship Radio Licences that were due to expire on or after 19 July 2000 qualify for the reduced fee of £20.00. For licences that expired before 19 July 2000 the fee of £22.00 still applied and the next renewal will be at the new rate. If you have already paid the old fee but should have paid the new one, a refund will be sent to you in due course. Otherwise you need take no action, you will automatically receive a licence reminder approximately six weeks prior to your licence expiry date.
Although, every effort has been made to cut down the amount of old application forms in circulation and to announce the changes through the boating press, we know that some of the old forms will be returned to the RLC. In order to minimise the costs of making refunds of the £2 overpayment (approximately £4.75) the RLC has been instructed to return the application with a request for the correct fee.
From 1 February 2000 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) assumed responsibility for the organisation and broadcasting of maritime safety information via NAVTEX. This was previously undertaken by British Telecommunications plc (BT).
The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Falmouth will undertake the NAVTEX coordination role previously carried out by BT at Stonehaven and will also be responsible for the NAVTEX broadcasts. The broadcasts will continue to be made from the BT transmitters at Cullercoats, Niton and Portpatrick.
There are no changes to the timing or frequencies of NAVTEX broadcasts.
(Taken from the MCA's Marine Information Note MIN 67 (M+F) February 2000)
Last year the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced that they wanted to phase out examinations for the Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator's Certificate and replace them with the GMDSS Short Range Certificate (SRC). These examinations are conducted by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The SRC has been taught in the United Kingdom for over two years as a two-day course. It has also been available as a one-day upgrade to holders of the Restricted (VHF only) Certificate. The MCA and RYA have now agreed to shorten the course by reducing several areas covering redundant subjects such as public correspondence and link calls.
It is intended that the new arrangements for VHF Radio Operator Certificates will be introduced on 1 September 2000. Whereupon, the RYA will no longer offer the Restricted (VHF only) Radio Operator Certificate. However existing operator's certificates will continue to remain valid as long as holders operate non-GMDSS VHF radio equipment only.
On the 1 September the RYA will begin offering the SRC as an assessed course, lasting a minimum of eight hours, for candidates with no previous radio operators qualification. There will also be a three hour assessed course available for candidates who already hold the Restricted (VHF only) Certificate. There will be no examination fee payable however the MCA will charge a certificate issue fee of £19.00.
More details on these changes and information concerning the venues and availability of courses are available from the RYA. Contact details are given on the back page.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) a specialised organisation of the United Nations requires the Agency to collect information about the vessel being licensed including the types of equipment installed. This information is then entered on the ITU's Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS) database, which can be accessed by search and rescue authorities around the world to facilitate Search and Rescue operations. In addition, the licence details are sent direct to HM Coastguard.
It is for this reason, that if information requested on the application form is not supplied, we are unable to issue a licence and must return it to the applicant to be correctly completed.
From time to time the ITU changes the information they require from the Agency and as result we have to amend our procedures. We have taken the opportunity of the licensing transfer to the Radio Licensing Centre to ensure that we are collecting the information required by the ITU and to help search and rescue authorities.
The
Radio Licensing Centre is now able to offer licensees the facility to pay for
licence renewals by direct debit. This will make the renewal process easier
as it will allow customers to be assured that the fee will be paid even if the
fees change. If you wish to take up this option, please contact us on 020 7211
0215 or by e-mail on ams@ra.gsi.gov.uk
and we will send you a direct debit mandate.
Recently we wrote to all standing order customers to offer this option. Unfortunately, a number of the mandates returned did not include any means whereby the sender might be identified. If you have returned a direct debit mandate recently and have not heard from the Radio Licensing Centre or your Bank to confirm that a direct debit has been set up please get in contact with us immediately.
Please ensure that all direct debit mandates are fully completed and include your licence reference number. This number is composed of six digits and one letter and can be found on your licence validation document. If you are unable to find this number, please write your callsign on the top right hand corner of the mandate and we will find the licence reference for you.
Would all licensees please note that the Radio Licensing Centre's Minicom facility is available for customers with a hearing impairment only. The service is monitored by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID) who have complained about a number of calls from customers using the service as a standard telephone number.
Would all company representatives please note that when applying for a licence in the name of a company, that if the company box is ticked you are declaring that it is a "limited company" and therefore the Company Registration Number must be supplied. If the company is not a limited company then another box (such as Partnership) should be ticked.
Licence applications in the name of a company are acceptable to the Agency, only if a named representative (that the Agency can contact if required) is identified on the form. This should normally be either the Company Secretary or a Director.
Q I am in the process of selling my vessel but the licence is due to expire beforehand, should I renew the existing licence?
A The Ship Radio Licence is not transferable between either vessels or owners and the fee is non-refundable. If a licensee is in the process of selling a vessel he/she would be better served in de-commissioning (removing from the vessel) any radio equipment fitted and cancelling the licence until after the sale is complete rather than renewing an existing licence.
Q How do I request amendments to my licence?
A Any amendment (including cancellation) requests for your licence should be made using the amendments/additions form (RA 367) supplied when the licence is issued and again at renewal. Copies can also be ordered from AMS. Once completed it should be sent to The Radio Licensing Centre, The Post Office, PO Box 1495, Bristol, BS99 3QS. Amendments must be made in writing as your licence is an authority from the Secretary of State for Trade & Industry to install and use radio equipment and as such is an official document. However, this written instruction can be faxed to RLC in order to save time and postage.
Q Is it possible to use maritime radio "legally" ashore from a coastal location and does my ship radio licence cover this use?
A Yes, it is possible to use maritime radio from a coastal location but a Ship Radio Licence does NOT cover this use. A Coastal Station Radio licence (CSR) must cover the equipment and a CSR licence allows operation only on certain specific frequencies. For more information on CSR licensing contact AMS and ask for information sheet RA 290.
Q As my Ship Radio Licence covers hand-held radios on my boat and tender, what is the Transportable Licence?
A The "Transportable" variation of the Ship Radio Licence is designed for customers who may own or operate more than one vessel but do not have a fixed set on either one and employ a single hand-portable VHF unit as the radio for both. It licenses the radio, which can then be used on any vessel regardless of the vessel's licence status.
Q When should I buy a GMDSS compatible VHF/DSC radio for my boat?
A The general advice for pleasure craft at present from the MCA is: As HMCG has confirmed its intent to monitor IMM VHF Channel 16 until 31st January 2005, owners and users of pleasure craft have until then to purchase new equipment. However, if you are considering the purchase of a new or replacement VHF set at present, it would of course be sensible to buy one of the new DSc or DSc compatible units available on the market.
Q Do I need an operator's certificate to have a marine radio transceiver on my boat?
A No, a marine radio can be "available for use" on a vessel with a Ship Radio Licence alone. However, without the operator's certificate the radio can only be used for monitoring (receive only) purposes unless in a DISTRESS situation, when persons in grave and imminent danger may use any and all means at their disposal to summon assistance.
AMS Manager
Stephen Hand
020 7211 0225
E-mail: stephen.hand@ra.gsi.gov.uk
AMS Deputy Manager
Mike Martin
020 7211 0212
E-mail: mike.martin@ra.gsi.gov.uk
General maritime licensing policy
enquiries
Inc. Ships, Coastal Station Radio (CSR) application forms, Navigational Aids
& RADAR licence processing:
contact AMS on 020 7211 0215/7
E-mail: ams@ra.gsi.gov.uk
Ship Radio Licence processing
enquiries
The Radio Licensing Centre, The Post Office, PO Box 1495, Bristol, BS99 3QS.
Tel: 0870 243 4433 Fax: 0117 975 8911
Web: www.radiolicence-centre.co.uk
For information on Amateur &
CB Radio
contact the Amateur & CB Section on 020 7211 0160
E-mail: amcb@ra.gsi.gov.uk
For general information on Marine
Radio Operator’s Certificates and the GMDSS
contact the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on 0870 600 6505 or visit www.mcagency.org.uk
For details of the Short-Range
Certificate (GMDSS, VHF)
contact the Royal Yachting Association on 02380 627 400 or visit their website:
www.rya.org.uk
For details of the Long Range
Certificate, (GMDSS, VHF, MF, HF and satellite communications), Restricted Operator’s
Certificate and the General Operator’s Certificate
contact the Association of Marine Electronic & Radio Colleges (AMERC) on
015394 32255 or visit www.pcfe.plymouth.ac.uk/amerc/
For details about registration
of 406 MHz EPIRBs
contact the EPIRB Registry on 01326 211 569
For details on Inmarsat satellite
communications equipment
contact Inmarsat on 020 7728 1777
For further information about
the ITU
visit their website at www.itu.int
The Agency produces information sheets
and publications on most aspects of its work. They are available by:
calling the Library on 020 7211 0502/05, or e-mailing library@ra.gsi.gov.uk or can be downloaded
from the Agency’s Website at www.radio.gov.uk
It is also possible to subscribe to the Library (free of charge) and automatically
receive updates and new releases; details are available from the above contact
options.
Information sheets and application forms which maritime customers may find useful:
RA 0 Current List of Agency Publications.
RA 206 RA Local Offices.
RA 354 RA and its Role in Managing the Radio Spectrum. (for information about the Agency).
RA 145 Ship Radio Licence Application Form (and Guidance Notes).
RA 258 EPIRBs - Use Custody and Control (includes a 406MHz EPIRB registration form).
RA 264 Use of International Maritime VHF Channels.
RA 273 Channel 16- Non-GMDSS, VHF Radio Telephone Guidelines on Use.
RA 292 Non-GMDSS Marine Radio Telephone Procedures.
RA 364 Ship Radio Licence Information Sheet.
RA 367 Amendments/Additions to Current Ship Radio Licence Details.
RA 276 Coastal station Radio Application Form.
RA 290 Coastal Station Radio Information Sheet.
RA 277 Maritime Navigational Aids & Radar Licence Application Form.
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