SHIPS’ RADIO LICENCES

will be free from October 1^st 2006 and Ofcom plans

• To issue ‘lifetime’ ships’ radio licences which shall remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until such time as the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. There shall be no end date on the ships’ radio licence. Such licences shall be personal to the licensee (whether individual or corporate) and will not be transferable (for example upon the sale of the vessel).
  
• To issue ‘lifetime’ ships’ portable radio licences which shall remain valid for as long as the licence details remain correct or until such time as the licence is either revoked by Ofcom or surrendered by the licensee. There shall be no end date on the ships’ portable radio licence. Such licences shall be personal to the licensee (whether individual or corporate) and will not be transferable (for example upon the sale of the ships’ portable radio equipment).
  
• To provide an online, web-based, self-service licensing service as an alternative to the postal service;
  
• To issue electronic licences (probably PDF® documents) to users of the online, web-based, self-service licensing service free of charge. The licensee would then print a hard copy of the licence which must be kept on board the vessel;
  
• To continue to make paper licences available (but subject to an administrative charge);
  
• To modify the original proposal by requiring licensees to confirm their licence details at least once every ten years in order to maintain their lifetime licence;
  
• To dispense with the licence disc.
  

For more information go to: http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/statement/

For an application form for a Ship's’ Radio Licence go to www.radiolicenceforms.co.uk/ShipApplication.asp and for more information about 'Radio at Sea' see my article on this web site on the ‘Articles’ page.