Quote:
Originally Posted by Wotname  my ships license /////
providing he has the appropriate radio operators certificate and his handheld has suitable type approval. |
No "ships License" is required for VHF in Australia. There is a general class license in place for VHF radios on boats. What is required is an operators license. The class license also covers 27 meg some uhf and the use of radar.
The class license mentioned below is applicable to any ships station (including a Hand held) and authorises any use on any shipe (including therefore a tender) the class license specifically says that a ship station cant be used on land (Land based VHF e.g. coast gurard etc have a different license).
So - Short story is when in Australia you can use any VHF on any recreational boat (and a lot of others) - not on land - and only if you have an appropriate license.
FROM AMSA
Licensing of ship and coast stations Class licences authorise the operation of a number of devices commonly used on vessels. These include:
27 MHz and VHF marine radio equipment;
mobile and satellite phones;
Inmarsat communications equipment;
marine radar;
low power on-board UHF equipment;
EPIRBs; and
Citizens Band (CB) radio equipment.
Class licences are open, standing authorities that allow anyone to operate particular radiocommunications equipment provided that the operation and the device are in keeping with the condition of the licence. Class licences do not have to be applied for and no licence fees are payable. If any condition of licence is breached (for example, operating on a frequency not mentioned in the Class Licence), the operator is no longer authorised to operate under the Class Licence. In this instance, the operator would be liable for prosecution.
Individual apparatus licences from ACMA are required for vessels carrying MF/HF marine radio equipment (Maritime ship licence - Ship Station Class B), trading vessels under Commonwealth survey (Maritime Ship licence - Ship Station Class C) and all coast stations. Applicants for individual ship and coast station licences should complete an Application for apparatus licence(s) form (R057) and, for assigned stations, the Additional station information form (R077). Licence fees should be included with the licence application.
The following information papers about marine radiocommunications licensing are published on the ACMA website:
Maritime Coast Licence Information Paper;
Maritime Ship Licence Information Paper; and
Maritime Ship Stations - 27 MHz and VHF Information Paper.
Further information about distress beacons (including EPIRBs) and CB radios is available.
Operator qualifications VHF and MF/HF marine radio equipment and Inmarsat (A, B, C) Satellite communications equipment carried on board a vessel must be under the control of a qualified operator at all times. All coast stations must also be under the control of a qualified operator.
Most operators choose to obtain a Marine Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP), which covers the operation of both VHF and MF/HF equipment. The Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) has a somewhat simpler syllabus, but only covers the operation of VHF equipment. The Marine Satellite Communications Certificate of Endorsement (Satellite Endorsement) may be added to either the MROCP or the MROVCP if use of Inmarsat equipment is required.
Inmarsat-C equipment that only supports the operation of a Vessel Monitoring System does not require operator qualifications.
Many TAFEs and marine organisations offer courses leading to examination for the MROCP. Such courses are not compulsory and many candidates for examination successfully self study. However, the examination for the Satellite Endorsement should follow conclusion of an approved course of study, including practical instruction in the use of Inmarsat communications equipment. The Australian Maritime College (AMC) provides the marine examination and certificate service on behalf of ACMA. The AMC can provide the details of organisations and individuals offering courses and or conducting exams.
Operators of a Ship Station Class C or a Major Coast Station are required to hold a GMDSS General Operators Certificate of Proficiency (GOCP) issued by AMSA. This is a higher level qualification involving detailed theoretical and practical knowledge of marine radio and satellite communications equipment. AMSA has accredited a number of educational institutions to conduct GOCP examinations at the conclusion of a relevant course of instruction. For further information, licensees should contact AMSA.
Information about operator qualifications is contained in the ACMA Information Papers Maritime Coast Stations - Certificates of Proficiency and Maritime Ship Stations - Certificates of Proficiency. Information about operator qualifications is also contained in a fact sheet entitled Marine Certificates of Proficiency.