free life time vhf radio licences fron dec 2006

[stepheneyre]

thought this would be of interest to all
Free lifetime radio licence reminder


From December 1, lifetime licences for ships' radios (yacht VHF users please note!) will be available free to online applicants.

Licensing processes will then be transferred from the Radio Licensing Centre (RLC) to Ofcom's head office. The authorities are reminding yachtsmen to cancel all direct debits or BACs payments they may have set up to pay for annual licences.

If your radio licence is due for renewal during October, November or December, you will automatically be sent a new annual licence as a temporary replacement for your old one - and the good news is that you will not have to pay for it.

If you have just bought a boat, and need a new licence during October or November, contact the RLC at www.radiolicencecentre.co.uk.

You will be sent an annual licence which you will not have to pay for. It will cover the period until your new lifetime licence is issued through the post.

Please note that for all other users, lifetime licences are only free if you apply online. Those making a paper-based application will be charged £20. (Still a good saving on an annual fee!)

For more information about the change visit www.ofcom.org.uk


thanks
stephen

[Paul Glatzel]

Just to clarify the licences a actualy free from 1st October. The reason for the delay to the end of the year for the implementation of some aspects of the process is simply that the IT systems are not quite in a position to give you free online licences yet so you apply in the usual way now & just don't pay.

In short anyone who doesn't have a licence now has no reason whatsoever not to apply for one.

Also if you don't yet have a licence for you as the operator it doesn't stop you getting a licence for the vessel as they are not linked and you are not required to prove you have an operators licence when applying for a ships licence - this is a common misunderstnding

Regards

Paul

[havener]

Originally Posted by Paul Glatzel

In short anyone who doesn't have a licence now has no reason whatsoever not to apply for one.

Paul

And the enforcement regime is about to get a whole lot better as well, at last, so it's worth making sure everyone is up to date.

Don't forget crew for VHF licences - the "direct supervision" clause allowing others to use a radio without a licence will be viewed as exactly that - DIRECT supervision. Your crew being unlicenced but calling you from the tender is NOT direct - watch out for that one.

Simon

[richardjawilson]

I have a voucher and an about to book myself on a SRC GMDSS VHF Radio Course in November. Is there any need to do this, if I can just get a free licence???????

I am not to sure what I need to be doing, applying online or a Course????

I have a DSC on my boat and also need / would like to get a MMSI number.

Any help greatfully received

regards richard

[Louise]

Have a look at this.

This is a basic overview of the situation. To be fully legal to own and use a radio you need two licences: the Ship Radio licence to actually have a radio (which is free) and an operator's licence to enable you to transmit (for which there is a fee and you must pass an exam).

You need to do the course (to get your licence to operate) AND apply for a Ship Radio licence (which licenses the set, not the user). HTH

[richardjawilson]

Thank you Louise, that makes things a lot clearer now.

regards richard