VHF marine radio operator qualifications

**KarlB** · 18th December 2010, 09:22 AM

ACMA seeks views on VHF marine radio operator qualifications for recreational boaters

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has released a consultation paper titled: A new approach for recreational boaters who operate VHF Marine Radios. Within the paper, the ACMA looks at the regulatory arrangements for VHF marine radio used by recreational boat operators in Australia and seeks comment on the following proposals:

To remove the mandatory requirement for recreational boaters to hold a marine radio operators certificate of proficiency before communicating in the VHF bands within Australian territorial waters.
For marine radio operator qualification arrangements to be managed by an organisation which has closer ties to the marine community.

A copy of the paper is available in Word (434 kb) and PDF (341 kb) formats. This paper represents the second phase of the review which commenced with the VHF Marine Radio Operator Qualification Arrangements–Recreational (Non-Commercial) Vessels discussion paper.

Make a submission
The ACMA seeks the views of all interested parties—from individuals who operate marine radio on a recreational basis, to marine industry representatives and regulatory bodies throughout Australia. The closing date of submissions and surveys for this paper is 5:00pm Friday, 28 February 2011.
Submissions and any related queries can be forwarded by email to: mrowp@acma.gov.au
Or send by mail to:
Manager, Industry Partnerships
Australian Communications and Media Authority
PO Box 13112, Law Courts
Melbourne, Victoria, 8010

Online survey

In addition to the consultation paper the ACMA has developed a short online survey as an alternative way people can contribute to the consultation.

Take the survey.

Cheers
KarlB

miky · 20th December 2010, 10:06 AM

Thanks for this Karl.

Although I have a marine radio operators certificate I have never seen the point for VHF use. So I think that a class licence similar to the marine 27MHz radio use would be good.

BTW there is a problem with your links but this works:
http://acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/mai...dio_review.pdf

Mike

**Trout** · 20th December 2010, 09:27 PM

I have a MROCP but not sure why I bothered. I do use VHF when on the boat but know heaps of others who do not have one and still use a VHF. No one ever checks licences anyway. Also the course was not really that useful ...pretty basic. However, I must say it was not as bad as the QLD boat licence course. That was a total joke and a far as I could tell just a means of ensuring a few private boat training operators can earn a tidy income. It was harder to get a licence to use a radio than it was to get a boat licence

Anyway at the time I did not need a licence to sail my 35ft yacht anywhere I liked but I did need it to drive my tender for the yacht!

miky · 20th December 2010, 10:28 PM

Yeh, i reckon the boat licence is a bit of a farce. You can have a boat as big as you like and if it doesn't have an engine no licence but if it has a put put then licence needed.

.

**numpty** · 22nd December 2010, 09:30 AM

I agree re the boat licence, although I got mine through work so it didn't cost. Have never seen the point behind the Radio Operators Licence either, as it's mostly common sense. Did that qual through work as well, so also no cost to me.

Soapy · 2nd January 2011, 01:25 PM

Originally Posted by miky

Thanks for this Karl.

Although I have a marine radio operators certificate I have never seen the point for VHF use. So I think that a class licence similar to the marine 27MHz radio use would be good.

BTW there is a problem with your links but this works:
http://acma.gov.au/webwr/_assets/mai...dio_review.pdf

Mike

It is a class licence you are using for Marine VHF, only one of the conditions of that class licence is that you have an MROCP, This is essential because it is an IMO and ITU treaty obligation for Australia that anyone using this band must have had instruction in marine safety calling and frequency use. Law of the sea.

miky · 5th January 2011, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by Soapy

It is a class licence you are using for Marine VHF, only one of the conditions of that class licence is that you have an MROCP, This is essential because it is an IMO and ITU treaty obligation for Australia that anyone using this band must have had instruction in marine safety calling and frequency use. Law of the sea.

If the acma proposal goes through there will be no instruction for those wanting to use vhf marine. Just go into any shop and buy a certified radio and use it on your boat!

**nealo** · 5th January 2011, 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by miky

If the acma proposal goes through there will be no instruction for those wanting to use vhf marine. Just go into any shop and buy a certified radio and use it on your boat!

Hey...That's what people do now anyway!!!!!

I used to be on radio duty for VMR448 Volunteer Rescue Mackay, and it was hideous the amount of people that had a radio, but had nooo idea on how to use it!!!!!! or knew that they needed a licence.

Our MROCP had to have HF and VHF DSC endorsement as well as we had both in the base and the boats.

An MROCP should be compulsory!!!!! even if its only a 27 meg unit on board ...integrate it into the boat license!!!

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