Sorry fot the typo's, right hand is in a splint.

A VHF-FM license is no longer required for boats inside US waters,
unless they are commercial.

They are still required when outside US waters.

Not at all,

Unless the US has secured world domination, the US governement has no legal
right to inspect any vessel other than their own outside US waters. A
boarding of say, a Danish sailing boat in the mid Atlantic is legaly an
occupation of foreign territory. Nor would a VHF-FM radio be any good 3000
km from the nearest shore unless there were another VHF enabled vessel
within about 15 - 20 nm.

Boarding vessels from rouge governements in the name of terror protection is
a questionable defence, in particular when no conterfeit goods are found.
But it's probably hard to argue this looking straight into the wrong end of
a gun.


ottar

Sorry fot the typo's, right hand is in a splint.

A VHF-FM license is no longer required for boats inside US waters,
unless they are commercial.

They are still required when outside US waters.

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 17:57:50 +0100, Ottar
wrote:
Not at all,

Unless the US has secured world domination, the US governement has no legal
right to inspect any vessel other than their own outside US waters. A
boarding of say, a Danish sailing boat in the mid Atlantic is legaly an
occupation of foreign territory.

=================================

Not really. Senior coast guard officials have explained to me that
the US government has treaties with almost all countries that allow
international boarding and search of any vessel suspected of possible
criminal activity. Some of these treaties require explicit prior
approval but supposedly it is routinely granted. Vessels of unknown
flag are also boarded on the high seas if they are suspect.

Wayne.B wrote:

On Fri, 04 Mar 2005 17:57:50 +0100, Ottar
wrote:
Not at all,

Unless the US has secured world domination, the US governement has no
legal right to inspect any vessel other than their own outside US waters.
A boarding of say, a Danish sailing boat in the mid Atlantic is legaly an
occupation of foreign territory.

=================================

Not really. Senior coast guard officials have explained to me that
the US government has treaties with almost all countries that allow
international boarding and search of any vessel suspected of possible
criminal activity. Some of these treaties require explicit prior
approval but supposedly it is routinely granted. Vessels of unknown
flag are also boarded on the high seas if they are suspect.

Closer,

I'm sure the US has bilateral agreements with other nations facilitating
such boardings. If your coast guard or navy wish to board such a vessel,
they are probably checking the list if there are other requirements before
doing so.

Vessels of unknown flag, that is none recognized by UN or IMO are not
protected by any authorative governement. They are the underdogs of the
seas and treated at will by any navy in the area. Such ships could just as
well fly the jolly rogers.


ottar

In article .com,
"Leonard" wrote:

Sorry fot the typo's, right hand is in a splint.

A VHF-FM license is no longer required for boats inside US waters,
unless they are commercial.

They are still required when outside US waters.


Actually not quite accurate. Licensing is only required if you
communicate with a Coast Station of another country. If you just
sail out past the 20 mile Limit, but don't enter another countries
waters, or communicate with another countries Coast Stations,
you are still covered by the Blanket US License if your vessel
is US flagged. This is, however, a very minor distinction.

Bruce in alaska
--
add a 2 before @

If you plan to dock in a foreign port (e.g., Canada or the
Bahamas) or if you communicate with foreign coast or ship
stations, you must have a RESTRICTED RADIOTELEPHONE OPERATOR
PERMIT (sometimes referred to by boaters as an "individual
license") in addition to your ship radio station license.
Section IV outlines the procedure for obtaining a permit.
However, if (1) you merely plan to sail in domestic or
international waters without docking in any foreign ports
and without communicating with foreign coast stations, and
(2) your radio operates only on VHF frequencies, you do not
need an operator permit.

NOTE: A ship radio station license authorizes radio
equipment aboard a ship, while the restricted radiotelephone
operator permit authorizes a specific person to communicate
with foreign stations or use certain radio equipment (e.g.,
MF/HF single sideband radio or satellite radio).

Above copied from FCC website.


Bruce in Alaska wrote:
In article .com,
"Leonard" wrote:


Sorry fot the typo's, right hand is in a splint.

A VHF-FM license is no longer required for boats inside US waters,
unless they are commercial.

They are still required when outside US waters.



Actually not quite accurate. Licensing is only required if you
communicate with a Coast Station of another country. If you just
sail out past the 20 mile Limit, but don't enter another countries
waters, or communicate with another countries Coast Stations,
you are still covered by the Blanket US License if your vessel
is US flagged. This is, however, a very minor distinction.

Bruce in alaska