Ship or ship portable radio licence: terms and conditions

Terms and conditions

Version 1 of the ship or ship portable radio licence terms and conditions (PDF, 314.1 KB) applies to ship radio licences that may authorise earth station equipment between 14-14.25 GHz, but which do not authorise the use of earth station equipment across the full 14-14.5 GHz band.

Version 2 of the ship or ship portable radio licence terms and conditions (PDF, 429.7 KB) applies to:

• ship radio licences that do authorise the use of earth station equipment across the full 14-14.5 GHz band; and
• all ship or ship portable radio licences that have been issued from 13 November 2022.

The 'lifetime' ship radio licence has no end date – it will remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct, or until the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. Ofcom will revoke the licence if the licence is neither amended or validated at least once every ten 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.

Download a sample 'lifetime' ship radio or ship portable radio licence (PDF, 44.7 KB)

Fees for a 'lifetime' licence