Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001
as amended
made under subsection 132 (1) of the
Radiocommunications Act 1992
This compilation was prepared on 7 January 2009
taking into account amendments up to Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence Variation 2008 (No. 1)
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]
2 Commencement
3 Definitions
Part 2 Class licence
4 Class licence
Part 3 Conditions
5 Compliance with equipment specifications and standards
6 Location of station
7 Operator qualifications
8 Operation outside Australia
9 Call signs
10 Distress, urgency, safety and calling
11 Public correspondence
12 Commercial operations
13 Non-commercial operations
14 Port operations
15 Professional fishing operations
16 On-board communications
17 Radiodetermination communications
18 Maritime ship stations and AIS frequencies
Schedule 1 Equipment specifications and standards
Part 1.1 27 MHz inshore boating radio service equipment
Part 1.2 VHF international maritime mobile service equipment
Part 1.3 UHF on-board communications equipment
Schedule 2 Permissible operations
Part 2.1 Frequencies mentioned in tables
Part 2.2 Radiotelephony transmissions for distress, urgency, safety and calling communications
Part 2.3 Digital selective calling transmissions for distress, urgency, safety and calling communications
Part 2.4 Public correspondence
Part 2.5 Commercial operations
Part 2.6 Non-commercial operations
Part 2.7 Port operations
Part 2.8 Professional fishing operations
Part 2.9 On-board communications
Part 2.10 Radiodetermination communications
Part 2.11 Automatic Identification System
Notes
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]
This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001.
Section 1 - Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station - 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001 - Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station - 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001 | Zoe
2 Commencement
This Class Licence commences on 1 July 2001.
3 Definitions
In this Class Licence:
Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Australian ship means an Australian vessel.
calling, in relation to a maritime ship station, means operating the station to establish contact with another station.
commercial operations means the activities of commercial ships (other than professional fishing and port operations).
device compliance day means the most recent of the following days:
(a) if the device was manufactured in Australia — the day the device was manufactured;
(b) if the device was manufactured overseas and imported into Australia — the day it was imported;
(c) if the device was altered or modified in a material respect — the day it was altered or modified.
distress, in relation to a transmission, means a ship, aircraft or person is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
DSC or digital selective calling means a digital system of alerting transmissions used by ship and shore stations to facilitate the exchange of distress, urgency, safety and routine communications.
frequency band means a band of frequencies excluding the lower limit and including the higher limit.
inshore boating radio service means a maritime mobile service comprising limited coast stations and maritime ship stations operating in inshore waters or inland waterways.
LCS or limited coast station means a maritime coast station that is limited in operation.
MCS means a major coast A station, a major coast B station or a major coast receive station.
non-commercial operations means operations other than:
(a) commercial operations; or
(b) port operations; or
(c) professional fishing operations.
port operations means activities relating to the operational handling, movement and navigation of ships in, or near, a port.
professional fishing operations means professional fishing activities.
pX means peak envelope power, being the average power supplied to an antenna transmission line by a transmitter during 1 radio frequency cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope under normal operating conditions.
pY means the mean power, being the average power supplied to an antenna transmission line by a transmitter during 1 radio frequency cycle at the crest of the modulation envelope taken under normal operating conditions.
pZ means carrier power, being the average power supplied to an antenna transmission line by a transmitter during 1 radio frequency cycle under the conditions of no modulation.
radiodetermination means:
(a) determination, on the basis of propagation properties of radio waves, of:
(i) the position of an object; or
(ii) the velocity of the object; or
(iii) other characteristics of the object; or
(b) the obtaining of information about characteristics mentioned in paragraph (a).
repeater station means a limited coast assigned station established at a fixed location:
(a) for the reception of radio signals from:
(i) maritime ship stations; or
(ii) limited coast non assigned stations; or
(iii) limited coast marine rescue stations; and
(b) for the automatic retransmission of those signals by radio.
safety, in relation to a transmission, means the safety of navigation or the provision of an important meteorological warning.
SAR means search and rescue.
ship means any kind of vessel used in navigation by water, however propelled or moved, and includes:
(a) a barge, lighter or other floating vessel; and
(b) an air-cushion vehicle, or other similar craft, used wholly or primarily in navigation by water; and
(c) an off-shore industry mobile unit within the meaning of subsection 8 (3) of the Navigation Act 1912.
UHF or ultra high frequency means a frequency that exceeds 300 megahertz but does not exceed 3 gigahertz.
urgency, in relation to a transmission, means the safety of a ship, aircraft or person requires urgent attention.
VHF or very high frequency means a frequency that exceeds 30 megahertz but does not exceed 300 megahertz.
working, in relation to a station, means operating the station to exchange messages with another station.
Note 1 For the definition of Automatic Identification System (AIS), see the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
Note 2 For the definitions of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Act and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
Part 2 Class licence
4 Class licence
This Class Licence authorises any person to operate a maritime ship station on-board an Australian ship, except a ship that is subject to the Navigation Act 1912, if the person complies with the conditions mentioned in this Class Licence.
Part 3 Conditions
5 Compliance with equipment specifications and standards
A person must not operate a maritime ship station unless each device included in the station:
(a) if the device has a device compliance day before 1 July 2001 —complies with a specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard, as in force on the device compliance day, that:
(i) is mentioned in Schedule 1; and
(ii) applies to the device; or
(b) if the device has a device compliance day on or after 1 July 2001 —complies with:
(i) a specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard, as in force on the device compliance day, that:
(A) is mentioned in Schedule 1; and
(B) applies to the device; and
(ii) any other standard that applies to the device on its device compliance day.
Note 1 The Australian Communications Authority wishes to make it clear that, if a standard mentioned in section 5 is amended, or replaced by another standard, after the device compliance day for a device, the device need not comply with the new or amended standard.
Note 2 Under section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, standard means a standard made under section 162 of that Act.
6 Location of station
A person must not operate a maritime ship station on land.
7 Operator qualifications
(1) A person must not operate a maritime ship station on frequencies in the VHF band unless the person:
(a) is qualified to operate the station; or
(b) is operating the station under the supervision of a person who is qualified to operate the station.
(2) A person is qualified to operate the station if the person holds:
(a) a Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency, Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency or Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate of Proficiency; or
(b) qualifications recognised by the ACA as being equivalent to the qualifications mentioned in paragraph (a).
8 Operation outside Australia
(1) A person operating a maritime ship station beyond the territorial sea of Australia must operate the station in accordance with:
(a) the International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations; and
(b) if the station is in the territorial sea of another country — the requirements of the country applying to radiocommunications.
(2) If a maritime ship station is to be operated beyond the territorial sea of Australia on a maritime frequency authorised by the International Telecommunication Union and published in the version current from time to time of the Manual for Use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile‑Satellite Services, the person must operate the station only to communicate with:
(a) a coast station operated in another country; or
(b) a maritime ship station.
9 Call signs
(1) A person operating a maritime ship station must use a form of identification at the start of each transmission, or series of transmissions, that clearly identifies the station.
(2) If the station operates DSC, the person must use a maritime mobile service identity to identify the station.
Note Maritime mobile service identities can be obtained on application from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.
10 Distress, urgency, safety and calling
(1) A person may operate a maritime ship station for distress, urgency, safety and calling communications only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.2 or 2.3 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 5 of the item; and
(e) in accordance with the limitations (if any) mentioned in italics in column 5 of the item.
(2) If a limitation mentioned in column 5 of an item in Part 2.2 of Schedule 2 states that this subsection applies, a person must use the frequency mentioned in column 2 of the item only if direct ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communications on other frequencies are not practicable.
11 Public correspondence
A person may operate a maritime ship station for public correspondence only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.4 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item.
12 Commercial operations
A person may operate a maritime ship station for commercial operations only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.5 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 5 of the item.
13 Non-commercial operations
(1) A person may operate a maritime ship station for non-commercial operations only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.6 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 5 of the item; and
(e) in accordance with the limitations (if any) mentioned in italics in column 5 of the item.
(2) If a limitation mentioned in column 5 of an item in Part 2.6 of Schedule 2 states that this subsection applies, the station must communicate only with a limited coast station or a maritime ship station with which the person is affiliated for the purposes of a specific maritime event.
(3) If a limitation mentioned in column 5 of an item in Part 2.6 of Schedule 2 states that this subsection applies, the station must communicate only with a station operated by a rescue organisation, including a station on land.
14 Port operations
A person may operate a maritime ship station for port operations only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.7 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 5 of the item.
15 Professional fishing operations
A person may operate a maritime ship station for professional fishing operations only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.8 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with a station mentioned in column 4 of the item; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 5 of the item.
16 On-board communications
A person may operate a maritime ship station for on-board communications only:
(a) on a frequency mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.9 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) to communicate with persons on board or near the ship; and
(d) for a purpose mentioned in column 4 of the item.
17 Radiodetermination communications
A person may operate a maritime ship station for radiodetermination purposes only:
(a) on a frequency in a frequency band mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.10 of Schedule 2; and
(b) using a transmitter output power not exceeding the power mentioned in column 3 of the item; and
(c) for a purpose mentioned in column 4 of the item.
18 Maritime ship stations and AIS frequencies
A person must operate a maritime ship station on the following frequencies only in accordance with Part 2.11 of Schedule 2.
(a) 161.975 MHz;
(b) 162.025 MHz.
Schedule 1 Equipment specifications and standards
(section 5)
Part 1.1 27 MHz inshore boating radio service equipment
Item
Description of document
1
Specification for 27 MHz Radiotelephony Equipment Employed in the Inshore Boating Radiocommunication Service (also known as RB 244), published by the Department of Communications in February 1982
2
Specification for 27 MHz Radiotelephony Equipment Employed in the Inshore Boating Radiocommunication Service (also known as DOC 244), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1988
3
Equipment Compliance Requirement for Radiocommunications Equipment used in the 27 MHz Inshore Boating Service, incorporating Ministerial Standard 244, published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1990
4
Equipment Compliance Requirement for Radiocommunications Equipment used in the 27 MHz Inshore Boating Service, incorporating Ministerial Standard 244 (also known as ECR 244), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in April 1992
5
Radiocommunications Standard (Radiocommunications Devices Used in the Inshore Boating Radio Services Band) No. 1 of 1996, gazetted on 20 December 1996
Part 1.2 VHF international maritime mobile service equipment
Item
Description of document
1
Specification for Radio Equipment employed in the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 274), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
2
Specification for Radio Equipment employed in the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 275), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
3
Specification for the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 274), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1988
4
Equipment Compliance Requirements for Radiotelephony Equipment used in the VHF International Maritime Mobile Service (incorporating Ministerial Standard 274) (also known as ECR 274), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1990
5
Radiocommunications Standard (VHF Radiotelephone Equipment — Maritime Mobile Service) No. 1 of 1997, gazetted on 5 March 1997
6
Standard AS/NZS IEC 62287.1: 2007, Maritime navigation and radiocommunication equipment and systems—Class B shipborne equipment of the automatic identification system (AIS), Part 1: Carrier-sense time division multiple access (CSTDM) techniques, as published by Standards Australia International and as in force from time to time
Part 1.3 UHF on-board communications equipment
Item
Description of document
1
Specification for Maritime Mobile Fixed and Repeater Radio Equipment employed for On-board Communication in the 450–470 MHz Bands (also known as RB 231), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
2
Specification for Maritime Mobile Personal Radio Equipment employed for On‑board Communication in the 450–470 MHz Bands (also known as RB 231A), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
Schedule 2 Permissible operations
(sections 10 to 18)
Part 2.1 Frequencies mentioned in tables
A frequency mentioned in column 2 of a table in this Schedule applies to both the sending of a transmission and the receipt of a transmission unless the frequency has a suffix Tx or Rx.
If the frequency has a suffix Tx, it applies only to the sending of a transmission.
If the frequency has a suffix Rx, it applies only to the receiving of transmissions.
Part 2.2 Radiotelephony transmissions for distress, urgency, safety and calling communications
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
Column 5PurposeLimitations
1
27860 kHz(86)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Distress, urgency, safety and callingSupplementary to 27880 kHz
2
27880 kHz(88)
4 watts pZ
LCSMaritime ship stations
Distress, urgency, safety and callingMode of operation must be AM only
3
156.300 MHz(06)
25 watts pY
Aircraft stationsMaritime ship stations
Communication when the ship is involved in co-ordinated air/sea SAR operations
4
156.375 MHz(67)
25 watts pY
MCSLCSMaritime ship stations
Distress, urgency and safetySupplementary to 156.800 MHz
5
156.650 MHz(13)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Distress, urgency and safety
6
156.800 MHz(16)
25 watts pY
MCSLCSMaritime ship stations
Distress, urgency, safety and calling
7
157.025 MHz Tx161.625 MHz Rx(80)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations via a repeater station
Ship safety and movementSubsection 10 (2) applies
8
157.050 MHz Tx161.650 MHz Rx(21)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations via a repeater station
Ship safety and movementSubsection 10 (2) applies
9
157.075 MHz Tx161.675 MHz Rx(81)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations via a repeater station
Ship safety and movementSubsection 10 (2) applies
10
157.100 MHz Tx161.700 MHz Rx(22)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations via a repeater station
Ship safety and movementSubsection 10 (2) applies
11
157.125 MHz Tx161.725 MHz Rx(82)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations via a repeater station
Ship safety and movementSubsection 10 (2) applies
Part 2.3 Digital selective calling transmissions for distress, urgency, safety and calling communications
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
Column 5PurposeLimitations
1
156.525 MHz(70)
25 watts pY
MCSLCSMaritime ship stations
Distress, urgency, safety and calling
Part 2.4 Public correspondence
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
1
156.025 MHz Tx160.625 MHz Rx(60)
25 watts pY
MCS
2
156.050 MHz Tx160.650 MHz Rx(01)
25 watts pY
MCS
3
156.075 MHz Tx160.675 MHz Rx(61)
25 watts pY
MCS
4
156.100 MHz Tx160.700 MHz Rx(02)
25 watts pY
MCS
5
156.125 MHz Tx160.725 MHz Rx(62)
25 watts pY
MCS
6
156.150 MHz Tx160.750 MHz Rx(03)
25 watts pY
MCS
7
156.175 MHz Tx160.775 MHz Rx(63)
25 watts pY
MCS
8
156.200 MHz Tx160.800 MHz Rx(04)
25 watts pY
MCS
9
156.250 MHz Tx160.850 MHz Rx(05)
25 watts pY
MCS
10
156.325 MHz Tx160.925 MHz Rx(66)
25 watts pY
MCS
11
156.350 MHz Tx160.950 MHz Rx(07)
25 watts pY
MCS
12
157.075 MHz Tx161.675 MHz Rx(81)
25 watts pY
MCS
13
157.150 MHz Tx161.750 MHz Rx(23)
25 watts pY
MCS
14
157.175 MHz Tx161.775 MHz Rx(83)
25 watts pY
MCS
15
157.200 MHz Tx161.800 MHz Rx(24)
25 watts pY
MCS
16
157.225 MHz Tx161.825 MHz Rx(84)
25 watts pY
MCS
17
157.250 MHz Tx161.850 MHz Rx(25)
25 watts pY
MCS
18
157.275 MHz Tx161.875 MHz Rx(85)
25 watts pY
MCS
19
157.300 MHz Tx161.900 MHz Rx(26)
25 watts pY
MCS
20
157.325 MHz Tx161.925 MHz Rx(86)
25 watts pY
MCS
21
157.350 MHz Tx161.950 MHz Rx(27)
25 watts pY
MCS
23
157.400 MHz Tx162.000 MHz Rx(28)
25 watts pY
MCS
Part 2.5 Commercial operations
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
Column 5Purpose
1
27680 kHz(68)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working
2
156.300 MHz(06)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
3
156.400 MHz(08)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
4
156.625 MHz(72)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
5
156.725 MHz(74)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working
6
156.925 MHz Tx161.525 MHz Rx(78)
25 watts pY
LCS
Calling and working
Part 2.6 Non-commercial operations
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
Column 5PurposeLimitations
1
27900 kHz(90)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCS
Calling and working
2
27910 kHz(91)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCS
Calling and working
3
27940 kHz(94)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working for specific maritime eventsSubsection 13 (2) applies
4
27960 kHz(96)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
5
27980 kHz(98)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working by rescue organisationsSubsection 13 (3) applies
Column 4Stations with which person may communicate
Column 5Purpose
1
27720 kHz(72)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working
2
27820 kHz(82)
4 watts pZ12 watts pX
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working
3
156.575 MHz(71)
25 watts pY
LCSMaritime ship stations
Calling and working
4
156.625 MHz(72)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
5
156.875 MHz(77)
25 watts pY
Maritime ship stations
Calling and working
Part 2.9 On-board communications
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Purpose
1
457.525 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
2
457.550 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
3
457.575 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
4
467.525 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
5
467.550 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
6
467.575 MHz
4 watts pY
Calling and working
Part 2.10 Radiodetermination communications
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency band
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Purpose
1
2.9–3.1 GHz
60 kilowatts pX
Marine radionavigation (Radar)
2
9.3–9.5 GHz
60 kilowatts pX
Marine radionavigation (Radar)
Part 2.11 Automatic Identification System
Column 1Item
Column 2Frequency band(Channel number)
Column 3Maximum transmitter output power
Column 4Purpose
1
161.975 MHz(AIS 1)
25 watts pY
AIS
2
162.025 MHz(AIS 2)
25 watts pY
AIS
Notes to the Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001
Note 1
Note: The Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001 (in force under subsection 132 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.
Note: > Note: Table of Instruments
Title
Date of notificationin Gazette or FRLI registration
Date ofcommencement
Application, saving ortransitional provisions
Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence 2001
27 June 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. GN25)
1 July 2001
Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence Variation 2004 (No. 1)
26 May 2004 (see Gazette 2004, No. GN21)
26 May 2004
—
Radiocommunications (Maritime Ship Station — 27 MHz and VHF) Class Licence Variation 2008 (No. 1)