This manual has been written to identify those areas where maritime licensing procedures differ from those laid out in the Radiocommunications Agency's Licensing Policy Manual. This guide is intended to complement and supplement the information given in that manual, and this is available, together with a range of other information, at the Agency's website, located at HREF=http://www.radio.gov.uk/. A list of the information sheets relevant to Maritime radio can be found in Appendix A.

There are three distinct licence classes within the Maritime Sector:

Coastal Station Radio (CSR);

Maritime Navigational Aid and RADAR (NAVAID); and

Ship Radio.

This manual has been designed to explain the differences for these licence classes from normal Agency procedures.

Further information on the following topics is available in the Radiocommunications Agency Licensing Policy Manual:

The above manual is available from:

Information and Library Service
Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX

Tel: 020 7211 0502/0505

E-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk

Introduction to Maritime radio

The importance of correct licensing and control of Maritime radio, particularly use of VHF radio equipment, is often overlooked. Vessels and coast stations primarily use radio equipment for safety of life and distress purposes. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (the WT Act) is the primary UK legislation that makes it an offence to install or use radio equipment without a licence unless it is specifically exempt. This implements the requirements of the International Radio Regulations (the Regs), and there are other regulations set by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) with regard to Maritime radio equipment that can be used by UK Ship Radio licensees.

The requirements are that:

No transmitting station may be established or operated by a private person or any enterprise without a licence issued in an appropriate form and in conformity with the provisions of these Regulations by or on behalf of the government of the country to which the station in question is subject. Without such licence, some foreign administrations will issue on the spot fines.

The WT Act licensing process includes issuing a unique callsign for a station, along with Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSIs) numbers if required. These details are registered and up-dated with other administrations via the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) so that stations will be properly identifiable.

The service of every ship radiotelephone station, ship earth station and ship station shall be controlled by an operator holding a Certificate of Competence and an Authority to Operate issued or recognised by the government to which the station is subject. Provided the station is so controlled, other persons besides the holder of the certificate may use the equipment. This requirement is enforced by the terms of the WT Act licence.

Maritime radio equipment falls under either the EU Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (R&TTE) Directive 99/5/EC, the UK Radio Interface Requirements or the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 1999.

In order to avoid causing harmful interference to other authorised users, it is important that all radio equipment operates in accordance with the relevant technical parameters. In addition, in the case of equipment used in a maritime environment, radio equipment needs to be able to operate satisfactorily under the conditions likely to be encountered on board a ship at sea and to be compatible with other radio systems used on board the vessel.

Under the Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment Regulations 2000, which implements the R&TTE Directive in the UK, it is a legal requirement that all radio equipment (with certain specific exceptions) meets certain essential requirements. It is the responsibility of any person who places radio equipment on the market or takes it into service to ensure that the requirements of the R&TTE Directive are met. It must be marked with the CE marking which means that a written declaration of conformity by the manufacturer has been drawn up for it, together with information for the user on the intended use of the equipment (e.g. Maritime radio).

The R&TTE Directive replaced the type approval regime and came into force on 8 April 2000; prior to this time it was still a legal requirement for Maritime radio equipment to be type approved under section 84 of the Telecommunications Act 1984. The R&TTE Directive also has a one-year transition period, during which equipment already covered by a type approval certificate may continue to be placed on the market and taken into service. No new type approvals have been issued since 7 April 2000. After 7 April 2001 only equipment that complies with the R&TTE Directive may be placed on the market, though equipment already type approved may continue to be taken into service. Moreover, such type approved equipment already taken into service would satisfy the terms of the licence.

In addition, it is the licensee's responsibility to ensure that all Maritime radio equipment to be covered by a licence granted by the Agency meets the relevant UK Radio Interface Requirement. UK Radio Interface Requirements provide a high level description of spectrum use (frequency range, channel spacing, output power, technology to be used where appropriate), licensing regime, etc. Details of the relevant UK Radio Interface Requirements can be obtained from the Radiocommunications Agency, telephone 020 7211 0211.

One of the exceptions mentioned above is that of Maritime radio equipment within the scope of the Directive 96/98/EC (the 'Marine Equipment Directive'). This is implemented by the Merchant Shipping (Marine Equipment) Regulations 1999. This equipment is not within the scope of the R&TTE Directive but must meet the requirements of the Marine Equipment Directive 96/98/EC. This equipment will bear the "ship's wheel" marking rather than the CE marking.

The GMDSS was developed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and supported by the ITU as the worldwide Distress and Safety communications system. In the UK the MCA is responsible for its implementation. The GMDSS became operational in 1991 and on 1st February 1999 became a compulsory requirement for all Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) convention vessels; that is vessels over 300 gross registered tons and various classes of passenger and fishing vessels.

The implementation of the GMDSS has highlighted the importance of ensuring that Maritime radio is correctly licensed. Details of a licensee's vessel, emergency contact etc. are made available to HM Coastguard and may be used to facilitate a search and rescue operation.

All DSC radios (both in coast and ship stations) must be programmed with a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number, which uniquely identifies the station. MMSIs have a standard format, which identifies the type of station and country of registration.

Vessel MMSI numbers are issued in the United Kingdom by the Radio Licensing Centre on behalf of the Agency. Local offices of the Agency, as part of the licensing process, issue Coastal Station Radio MMSIs. It is crucial that only MMSIs issued by the Agency or the Radio Licensing Centre on their behalf are programmed into DSC equipment (as the MMSIs are registered with the ITU). The use of incorrect numbers could mean that the Search and Rescue services might deploy inappropriate resources in response to a distress call thereby compromising their effectiveness.

Licence Fees and payment methods

At present, licence fees are an annual charge except for short-term variations on CSR licences. Payments can be made by cheque, postal order, direct debit, or credit/debit card. However, in accordance with the Agency's commitment to complying with the Government's electronic commerce initiative by 2005, the Agency's Specialist Sectors Unit is at the time of writing, investigating the viability of introducing an electronic licensing facility for this sector.

In the future, it is unlikely that Spectrum Pricing will cause significant changes to this sector. In July 2000, the Maritime licensing sector fee rates were reviewed, with the result that the fees for Ship Radio licences were reduced. In July 2001, the fee for a Maritime Portable Radio licence was reduced to £15 due to technical developments within the Maritime radio market.

The Maritime fee structure is set out below.

Coastal Station Radio (CSR):

CSR UK: £180 per channel per base station
CSR International: £100 per channel per base station
CSR Marina: £75 for pre-set channels M, M2 and Channel 80
Temporary CSR = pro rata fee depending on type of service required
CSR Training School: £50 for pre-set channels
CSR Supplier Licence: £50 for pre-set Channels

Ship Station Radio:

Ship Fixed Radio Licences: £20
Ship Portable Radio Licences: £15

Maritime Navigational Aids & RADAR (NAVAIDS):

Maritime Navigational Aid & RADAR licence: £40 per frequency per base station
Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS): £250 per channel per VHF base station
Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS): £1,000 per channel per MF/HF base.
A concessionary fee rate (50% discount) of the annual standard fee for all licences is available for licensees that meet the following criteria:

(a) it is a charity, and;

(b) has as its object the safety of human life in an emergency.

Crown Exemption is not applicable to the Maritime radio licensing sector.

Maritime radio licences, Ship Fixed and Portable licences are issued on the Agency's behalf by:

The Radio Licensing Centre (RLC)
The Post Office
PO Box 885
Bristol
BS99 5LG

Tel: 0117 925 8333

Coastal Station Radio (CSR) licences are issued through the Agency's network of Local Offices. Details of these can be found on the Agency's website. However temporary or short term CSR licences are issued by the Agency's Aeronautical and Maritime Section (AMS).

NAVAID licences are issued and amended by the Agency's AMS (once clearance for the frequency and equipment specifications has been gained from the National Frequency Allocation Panel), and renewals are carried out by the Agency's Customer Liaison Unit (CLU). Both are located at:

Radiocommunications Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX.

AMS Tel: 0207 211 0215

CLU Tel: 0207 211 0206 (fax 0207 211 0118)

The Agency's general Quality of Service targets apply to the Maritime sector except for the issue of Navigational Aid and RADAR licences. This is because all NAVAID licence applications must be cleared by the National Frequency Allocation Panel and this process can take up to six months. This clearance process is especially crucial for MF/HF installations where their transmissions may infringe national boundaries.

Who assigns which frequencies?

The international Radio Regulations as set by the ITU supply standardised rules and procedures for using radio frequencies that are used across international borders which includes the International Maritime Mobile Service. They are agreed and ratified at World and Regional Radio Conferences, which are usually held every three years. These Conferences carry out the legislative and policy functions of the ITU's Radiocommunications Sector. The Radio Regulations carry Treaty status for Member States, which includes the UK.

CSR stations are able to operate on some international channels as above as well as UK- only frequencies allocated by the Agency.

The National Frequency Allocation Panel (NFAP) must approve applications for Maritime Navigational Aid and RADAR licences before they can be issued. The NFAP is made of representatives from other interested government departments including MCA, MoD etc.

This document is designed to provide details of the Radiocommunications Agency's licensing and policy procedures relating to Maritime Radio. However, it should not be taken as giving exact policy in relation to this sector and should in any event be read in conjunction with the Agency's Licensing Policy Manual.

Therefore the Agency accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document.

Revisions to this document will be done periodically or when there is a substantive need to update this document.

Please contact the appropriate business unit directly if you have any queries or concerns, which can be found in Annex B of the Agency's Licensing Policy Manual.

List of Information Sheets.

These are available either from the Agency's Library on 0207 211 0211 or can be downloaded from the Agency's website at www.radio.gov.uk

Ship's Radio

RA 145 Ship Radio Licence Application Form (and Guidance Notes)

RA 385 Ship Portable Licence Application Form (and Guidance Notes)

RA 258 EPIRBs- Use Custody and Control (includes a 406 MHz 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 391 Maritime Radio Accounting Authorities

RA 393 Amendments/Addition to Current Ship Portable Radio Licence Details

RA 367 Amendments/Addition to Current Ship Radio Licence Details

Coastal Station Radio

RA 276 Coastal station Radio Application Form.

RA 290 Coastal Station Radio Information Sheet

RA 389 Coastal Station Radio Supplier Application Form

RA 394 Coastal Station Radio Training Establishment Application Form

Maritime Navigational Aids and RADAR

RA 277 Maritime Navigational Aids & Radar Licence Application Form

The Radiocommunications Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry The Agency General Enquiry Point/Switchboard telephone number: 020 7211 0211

Version 0.2 September 2002