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Peter Bennett Peter Bennett is offline
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First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Jul 2006
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On Sun, 20 Jul 2008 16:05:14 -0400, Ryk
wrote:

On Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:12:41 GMT, in message

Bruce in alaska wrote:

In article ,
Ryk wrote:


I used to have a VHF station license for my boat, but dropped it when
the local requirement went away. Somebody recently suggested to me
that I would need a station license to legitimately operate my radio
(on a Canadian registered vessel) in US waters. I do have an
operator's license. Do I need more to be legit in the US?

Ryk


Yes, to legally operate your VHF Radio in US Waters you are REQUIRED
by International Convention (ITU International Telecommunication Union)
to have a current Radio Station License issued by the Country of your
FLAG.


Thanks Bruce!

Is it specific about a license, or is it about meeting requirements of
the FLAG? I know that when we race internationally the SIs refer to
meeting requirements in the country of origin for either licensed or
registered vessels on a lot of safety issues.

What are the likely consequences if I don't? (Assuming I am otherwise
in compliance and using my radio responsibly inside the Great Lakes
Basin.) Is it different if I go south down the ICW?

Ryk


Almost all Canadian vessels are exempt from having a station license
provided they remain in Canadian waters, or outside Canada and outside
the territory of another country.

So, Yes, if you take your Canadian boat into US waters, you require a
Canadian Ship Station License, in addition to the Radio Operator
Certificate. Similarly, a US vessel in Canadian waters requires a US
Ship Station License.

I understand that a few years ago, some Canadian vessels on the Great
Lakes got into Serious Legal Problems when they ventured into US
waters without a station license.


--
Peter Bennett, VE7CEI
peterbb4 (at) interchange.ubc.ca
GPS and NMEA info: http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter
Vancouver Power Squadron: http://vancouver.powersquadron.ca