On the ship's radio licence you will find the ship's international callsign and, if requested, 9 digit MMSI number.
To obtain a ship's radio licence in the UK visit the Ofcom web site click here, in the USA visit the FCC web site click here.
Callsigns and MMSI numbers are internationally allocated.
If you know the vessel name, callsign or MMSI number you can find the vessel particulars at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) web site. click here for ITU ship database.
More information on legal requirements click here for OFCOM Ship Radio Guidance Notes
Mobile phone coverage is limited due the ultra high frequency used (>850MHz) and location of base stations.
Marine VHF is the best way of summoning help. You can contact the coastguard upto 50 miles off-shore and talk to other yachts upto 15 to 20 miles on the open sea.
For further information on marine VHF communication click here.
Yachtsmen wishing to communicate with each other or the coastguard over a greater distance use SSB.
Before you can transmit using a marine VHF radio from your yacht, you require a:-
GMDSS Short Range Certificate (VHF SRC).
The range of SSB is upto several thousand miles and calls between yachts are free.
In most parts of the world you can communicate with the coastguard up to serverl hundred miles off-shore.
Global weather can be received via fax and data and you can send and receive email.
Having an SSB transceiver on board offer security, entertainment and general communications while at sea.
- Weather Broadcasts (weather fax, Navtex, RTTY)
- SSB email from the high seas
- MF/HF SSB channels and frequencies
- Broadcast Stations, BBC world services etc.
- Coastguard Broadcasts from Eurpean, Australian & US Coastguards
- Amateur Radio - from onboard your yacht
If you want the capability of being able to transmit on all marine frequencies which include MF/HF/VHF and Inmarsat satellite from a yacht then you need a GMDSS Long Range Certificate (GMDSS LRC).
Click here to find out more about the Icom M801E SSB transceiver
WHY SSB MIGHT BE FOR YOU!
Get the answer from Rod Heikell's
very informal site
When it comes to purchasing a marine SSB radio the choice is a little limited.
The reason for this is that marine equipment needs to meet the relevant type approval standards and marine radio's both VHF and SSB have to meet the GMDSS requirements.
Here in Europe marine radios being sold today (VHF and SSB) must have digital selective calling (DSC).
One of the best marine SSB transceivers is the Icom M801, there are 1 or 2 others but this is the best for fitting to your average yacht.
The Icom M801 meets all the relevant type approval standards and approvals and is therefore legal to install.
BE AWARE
Icom do manufacture other marine radios for the US market, notably the Icom M802, the M700pro, M710.
Yaesu Vertex / Standard manufacture the VX-1700.
These sets do not meet the EU approvals and therefore should not be installed on any EU vessel.
Also be aware of dealers offering modified amateur radio SSB sets like the Icom IC718, IC706 or any Yaesu or Kenwood transceiver.
The dealer may say its " very popular HF multimode radio for boats", which is correct if you have an amateur radio licence. What they are not telling you is that it is illegal to install on a boat and use on marine frequencies nor do they say what the penalties are if found using one.
If fitting a marine SSB to a European
vessel
Be legal - do the right thing and install an Icom M801!
Read Section 4. Radio equipment conformity requirements of the OFCOM Ship Radio Guidance Notes
To use SSB Email you require an SSB radio such as the ICOM M710 or ICOM M801, a radio modem and a computer running Mircosoft Windows .
Using SSB email is as easy as sending email via your telephone line or mobile phone.
Click here for more information on SSB email
Click here for modem pricing information
- Power Supply.
- An SSB transceiver requires peak currents of 25 Amps. Hence the voltage drop between the power source and the SSB transceiver should be no more than half a volt.
- Good ground.
- For any MF/HF radio system to work a good connection to
ground or salt water is required. On a Steel yacht this is not a problem. On a
plastic yacht you need to mount 2 or more ground plates to the bottom of the
yacht and connect them to the ATU with 50mm by 0.5mm copper strip. Keep the
antenna grounding system completely separate from the DC or electrical
grounding system.
Try to avoid inside the hull internal grounding such as wire mesh or inductive paint as these methods do not work well on low frequencies and will induce RF current into the boat and DC grounding system.
Click here for more information on installing Dynaplates
Click here for copper strip and other antenna accessories - For any MF/HF radio system to work a good connection to
ground or salt water is required. On a Steel yacht this is not a problem. On a
plastic yacht you need to mount 2 or more ground plates to the bottom of the
yacht and connect them to the ATU with 50mm by 0.5mm copper strip. Keep the
antenna grounding system completely separate from the DC or electrical
grounding system.
- A good marine antenna.
- A whip antenna works best as it gives vertical
polarization which is good for long range communications on higher frequencies,
8MHz and above depending on the whip length.
The backstay can be used if properly insulated and a good RF connection is made. Due to the length of the backstay, performance is usually better than a whip on the lower frequencies, 2MHz and 4MHz depending on the length of the backstay.
Try and keep the antenna well clear of any metal, including bottom section of backstay.
- A whip antenna works best as it gives vertical
polarization which is good for long range communications on higher frequencies,
8MHz and above depending on the whip length.
Click here for more information on installing SSB antenna
Click here for Pacific Aerials HF Whips
Click here for HF SSB Antennas Accessories
Attend a YachtCom Long Range Certificate course to find out more!
What to know more about connection up an
SSB!
Read the SailMail
Primer
VHF DSC radios are starting to become popular with yachtsmen, mainly because you cannot buy standard VHF fixed sets any longer. There are no handheld VHF DSC radios on the market.
MF/HF DSC is not very popular with yachtsmen due to size, weight and cost. However, ICOM have a radio called the IC M801 which is a complete marine SSB transceiver with built in DSC functions.
Before you can use a DSC marine radio you do need a radio operator's certificate, these are:-
GMDSS Short Range Certificate for VHF
or
GMDSS Long Range Certificate for MF/HF & VHF.
Satellite Facts :-
- Life times - Satellites have a limited life time, dependent on fuel and orbit.
- Number of calls - The satellite is basically a telephone exchange, it can only handle a limited number of calls.
- Coverage - Depends on technology deployed.
- Mobility - You do need an antenna above deck to receive and make calls.
- Reliability - In the main good, but like any other mobile phone technology do expect to lose/drop calls.
- Systems cost - It is very expensive to put satellites up there and maintain them.
Marine Radio Operator's Certificate
A marine
radio operator's licence is an international legal requirement.
Yachtsmen operating a VHF only radio require a Short Range Certificate .
If operating
an SSB, VHF and Inmarsat from a yacht then a Long
Range Certificate is required.
Visit
www.yachtcom.co.uk for more information about otaining your marine radio
operators certificate.

Long Range Certificate
The
Long Range Certificate is required for
operations on all marine frequencies from a leisure craft.
MCA approved course &
exam.
The course covers:-
- Marine VHF, SSB including DSC
-
Inmarsat
- Operation and procedures.
- EPIRB, SARTs and NAVTEX.
Course duration including exam:-
- 2 days with on-line e-study
- 4 days
with classroom study.
Click here for more information
Short Range Certificate
The
Short Range Certificate is required for
operations on marine VHF channels from onboard a leisure craft.
In the
UK the Short Range Certificate is issued by the
RYA.
The course
covers:-
- Marine VHF DSC radio
- Operation and procedures
- EPIRB,
SARTs and NAVTEX.
Course duration including exam:-
- 1 day
Click here for more information
On-Line e-study
Both the
Short Range Certificate (SRC) and
Long Range Certificate (LRC)
can be
studied on-line using YachtCom's e-study training package.
The LRC and
SRC e-study packages have been used by mainy students to obtain there marine
radio operator's certificate.
Easy of use and informative the on-line
e-study package is an ideal way to study for your marine radio operator's
certificate. To study on-line just sign up for a course.
Click here for more information