VHF and HF SSB Marine Radio Licensing

This post is not about the value or importance of having a VHF marine radio aboard your vessel. There are many other articles on the Internet that discuss those points. It's also not about the use of high frequency single side band (HF SSB) radio for long-distance (i.e. blue water / open ocean) communication as an economical alternative to satellite telephone and Internet services. This is a simple discussion of the often confusing and misunderstood licensing requirements to use such marine radio equipment. You may find this information useful whether you are new to sailing or an old salt.

While some captains may not believe that it is important to be bothered with being "legal" when operating their marine radio, there are important safety benefits to being officially licensed and registered. More on that later.

[Note 1: The information presented in this blog post applies to United States citizens. Rules and regulations governing marine radio use vary in other countries.]
[Note 2: The information presented in this blog post is accurate as of the original published date. These rules are subject to change by the applicable regulating entities.]

The most useful information that I can provide is clarification on who actually needs to be licensed. The following two points succinctly summarize the radio licensing requirements for a sailing vessel. Other restrictions apply to large ships or cargo vessels.

1. You do not need a license to operate a marine radio aboard a pleasure vessel sailing within the United States or International waters unless you are certified by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry more than six passengers for hire in the open sea or tidewaters of the United States.
2. You do need a license to operate a marine radio aboard a pleasure vessel sailing in foreign ports or transmitting to foreign stations (i.e. Canada, Mexico, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands). 

Other than making certain that you are operating a marine radio legally, why is licensing so important? Radios with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability are designed to broadcast a unique nine-digit Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number to the U.S. Coast Guard to help search and rescue operations locate your boat. If your vessel does not require a radio license you may easily obtain an MMSI by contacting BoatUS, Sea Tow Service International, Inc., Shine Micro, or United States Power Squadrons. However, MMSI numbers obtained in this manner are only valid for boats that operate within the United States.

If your vessel requires a radio license (i.e. your boat is operating in foreign ports) you must be assigned an MMSI number that registers your vessel in the international Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) database so that your boat is recognized outside of the United States. This helps provide rapid alerting of shore-based rescue authorities in the event of an emergency. You can only be assigned this type of MMSI number if you are properly licensed to operate a marine radio. An MMSI assigned from one of the sources listed in the previous paragraph will not work in foreign ports.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the regulatory authority that issues Ship Radio Station licenses. There are two steps to the process. The first is to apply for a Restricted Radiotelephone (RR) Operator Permit. Each vessel is required to have one person that holds such a permit. FCC Form 605 is used for the application; no testing is required. This permit is specific to the radio operator and it is a lifetime license.

Once you have your Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit, you need to file for a Ship Radio Station License by using FCC Form 605 - Schedule B; again no testing is required. This license is specific to the vessel and while valid for ten years it cannot be transferred to other boats. Upon successful application, the FCC will assign the vessel a unique radio call sign and MMSI number.

The FCC makes the process easy by providing online form submission and payment through their Universal Licensing System (ULS) and the costs are reasonable. Considering the potential benefits of assisting authorities with a timely and safe rescue, we believe there are no excuses not to be properly and legally licensed to operate your marine radio.