VHF Radio Call Sign Help

[All is found]

Hi All!!
New Boat:
Not sure if any of this info is relevant but we are

registered in St Martin
We are Canadian
Digital VHF
Purchased boat from American
I do have my Radio Operators Certificate from Canada
Where/How Do We Obtain a RADIO CALL SIGNAL???

Don't know what I'd do without this forum!!!
Thanks in advance.

[IslandHop]

Not sure what it would be used for with vhf? In the USA we don't have that requirement

[Lodesman]

Do you mean MMSI?

[CarstenWL]

Where/How Do We Obtain a RADIO CALL SIGNAL???

Call Sign? Your 'flag state' is responsible for this.

Someone else have to chime in where to do this in St. Martin ... Typically Post- and Telecommunication Ministry or something like this ...

Regards,

Carsten

[fgd3]

You didn't say where you are. In the US we don't use call signs for talking on VHF, we use the vessel name. Perhaps you are looking for the MMSI used for AIS. If that's the case, start here:

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=mtmmsi

Fabbian

[Dockhead]

You mean call SIGN?

If you don't change the flag, the call sign usually stays with the boat. You can look up the boat in the IMO radio station database.

Normally the boat needs its own STATION license, separate from the operators' licenses, and you need to apply for that in the flag state. The call sign will be shown on the license.

You will find that almost no one will be interested in your call sign. But knowing and using it is proper radio procedure and in my opinion a good thing.

[Adelie]

On the station license for the boat.

[boatman61]

Most ships will ask for your call sign or MMSI if you hail them.. there's to many sail boats out there with the same name for certain ID.. in Europe when you buy a boat and change flag you have to deregister not only the boat but the state MMSI.. in my case it was from the French MMSI.. and change to your new country.. the old lazy days are gone.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Most ships will ask for your call sign or MMSI if you hail them.. there's to many sail boats out there with the same name for certain ID.. in Europe when you buy a boat and change flag you have to deregister not only the boat but the state MMSI.. in my case it was from the French MMSI.. and change to your new country.. the old lazy days are gone.

Yes, MMSI these days is much more often asked for than call sign, and for sure you need to either memorize this or write it down and post it at your nav table.

But CALL SIGN is the fundamental identification of a radio station. It's also a really good thing to know and use this, even if few people are interested in it. It shows professionalism.

[kas_1611]

VHF radio call signs and MMSI numbers (for DSC) are issued by the Telecommunications Authority of the flag state. They are found on the ships station licence and should be displayed close to the VHF unit on the boat.

The call sign is unique to each vessel.
The MMSI is unique to each DSC radio - the ship station will have a separate number to any handheld DSC units.

In a "MayDay" situation you should broadcast both (if DSC fitted).

One person in the crew must also have a personal VHF Operators licence (Short Range Certificate).

[hamburking]

Speaking as a Canadian, in Canada, you register your vhf radio with transport canada and receive a call sign. HOWEVER, they deregulated VHF radio in Canada something like 20 years ago...so you don't need to register your radio, have a call sign, or have an operators license. They might still available, but the link on the transport canada web site is broken (that may be a clue).

https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafet...qs-1489.htm#01

In my own personal experience, people use the vessel name on the radio. And with cell/sat/smart phones, few people actually use the vhf for anything other than getting a weather forecast. AIS requires an MMSI.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by hamburking

. . . they deregulated VHF radio in Canada something like 20 years ago, so you don't need to register your radio, have a call sign, or have an operators license... .

PROVIDED that they are "Canadian vessels that are not operated in the territorial waters of another country".

The OP's boat is flagged in St. Martin, so is not a Canadian vessel. I would bet he's operating it outside of Canadian waters, too.

He will need an operator's license from the Canadian authorities, and a station license from the flag state, that is, from St. Martin. It is possible that the station license is transferred automatically with the boat -- it varies. In the UK, just to name one example, you do have to get the station license re-issued but it's a 5 minute process done online with Ofcom. Don't know anything about St. Martin.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by kas_1611

. . . The MMSI is unique to each DSC radio - the ship station will have a separate number to any handheld DSC units.. . .

Just a small correction -- MMSI numbers are not indeed unique to each radio -- the ship has ONE MMSI number and generally for life, which is transferred with the boat if it is sold. Might get changed if you reflag in a different state.

Handheld DSC radios sometimes take the ship's MMSI, or sometimes have a unique handheld-only MMSI numbers. It varies by state. In Canada, it's up to you -- if the handheld VHF is used primarily on the mother ship, you use the mother's ship's MMSI. If you carry it to other vessels, or the dinghy, you may request a unique MMSI for the handheld.

From the Canadian site:

"6.2.2 Ship stations

Ship stations make up the most common category of MMSIs assigned by ISED. The MMSI identifies the ship, not the equipment or vessel owner. Therefore, each vessel needs only one ship station MMSI number, which can be programmed into all radio equipment on board."

http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst...1032.html#s6.2

[roland stockham]

Radio licensing is don by the flag state. In Canada it is an annual license and your call sign is on the license. Check with transport canada for what licenses you need.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by All is found

Hi All!!
New Boat:
Not sure if any of this info is relevant but we are

registered in St Martin
We are Canadian
Digital VHF
Purchased boat from American
I do have my Radio Operators Certificate from Canada
Where/How Do We Obtain a RADIO CALL SIGNAL???

Don't know what I'd do without this forum!!!
Thanks in advance.

Definitely your flag country. In this particular island, depends which flag have you chosen as the island is basically two different countries.
Your operators licence is international and good in all circumstances but has no bearing on the radio station that belongs to the boat.

Where was the boat registered before your purchase? In St. Martin? it may have a station license already.