Under SOLAS Chapter IV, some vessels are required to have ‘Ship Radio Stations’, which are to be licensed and the vessels must carry certain related documents and publications. The Republic of Marshall Islands issued a Marine Notice updating the requirements of documentation regarding Ship Radio Stations for its vessels.
Documents and Publications to be carried
In addition to the Ship Radio Station license, Certificates of Competency of the Radio Operator or Operators, and the Radio Log, the following publications must be carried aboard all RMI-flagged vessels to which this Marine Notice applies:
-Radiotelephone Installations
- International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Publication ‘List IV – List of Coast Stations and Special Service Stations – 2015’; and
- ITU Publication ‘Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile Satellite Services (Maritime Manual) – 2013’
- ITU Radio Regulations (Volume 1 to 4) – Carriage onboard is optional.
-Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Fitted Installations
- ITU Publication ‘List V – List of Ship Stations and Maritime Mobile Service Identity Assignments – 2016’;
- ITU Publication ‘List IV – List of Coast Stations and Special Service Stations – 2015’ containing a list of coast station and coast earth stations with which communications are likely to be established, showing watch-keeping hours, frequencies and charges, and a list of coast stations and coast earth stations providing navigational and meteorological warnings, and other urgent information for ships; and
- ITU Publication ‘Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime MobileSatellite Services (Maritime Manual) – 2013’.
- ITU Radio Regulations (Volume 1 to 4) – Carriage onboard is optional.
-Publication Revisions and Format
- The ITU publications listed above are current at the time of this Marine Notice’s publication. The International Telecommunication Union publishes regular revisions, and interested parties are to check the ITU website for the latest revisions to any of the publications listed above.
- Carriage requirements may be satisfied by either printed or electronic formats. Should an electronic format be used, there must be a backup capability should the primary system on which the electronic format is usually accessed be out ofservice.
-Maintenance Agreements
While not a requirement, it is recommended that vessels, for which there has been a shore- based maintenance agreement made, have a copy of the agreement onboard.
