Europe licensing requirements

Before the first use of a VHF radio in countries in Europe, the following authorizations MUST be obtained from the relevant regulatory authority.

LicensingEurope requirement

  • Ship Station VHF license — this authorizes the use of two-way VHF communications with other vessels, aircraft and shore stations. This license is applicable to a specific vessel, and is usually valid for the lifetime of the vessel. If you ever sell your vessel in the future, you will need to arrange for the transfer of the Ship Station VHF license to the new vessel owner.

  • Operator’s license — this authorizes an individual operator to conduct two-way VHF communications with other vessels, aircraft and shore stations. For most non-commercial operators, this license is usually referred to as a “Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit”, or “Restricted Certificate of Competence in Radiotelephone”.

  • MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number — a 9 digit number which is sent over a radio frequency channel in order to identify the originating vessel/station. If your vessel already has an MMSI number, the same MMSI number must be used to program your VHF radio. In Europe, the MMSI number can be programmed into the unit by the user. In some regions, you must obtain a radio operator’s licence before an MMSI number will be issued. In these areas, you can request an MMSI number from the same authority that issues the Operator’s license or Ship Station VHF licence.

It is also the radio operator’s responsibility to be familiar with all relevant rules and regulations related to radio use. In regions in which a VHF transceiver is compulsory, a current copy of the applicable government rules and regulations must be accessible to the operator.

The following table lists the relevant issuing authority for licences in each region, along with a link to the relevant website. Many authorities allow you to apply for a license online.

Country

Regulatory authority

Website

Austria

AT

Austrian Regulatory Authority for Broadcasting and Telecommunications

http://www.rtr.at

Belgium

BE

Belgian Institute for Postal services and Telecommunications (BIPT)

http://www.bipt.be

Bulgaria

BG

Communications Regulation Commission

http://www.crc.bg

Croatia

HR

Croatian Post and Electronic Communications Agency

http://www.hakom.hr/default.aspx?id=7

Cyprus

CY

Office of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulation

http://www.ocecpr.org.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=767&tt=ocecpr&lang=gr

Czech Republic

CZ

The Czech Telecommunication Office

http://www.ctu.eu/main.php?pageid=178

Denmark

DK

Danish Energy Agency

https://ens.dk/en

Estonia

EE

Estonian Competition Authority

http://www.konkurentsiamet.ee/?lang=en

Finland

FI

Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority

http://www.ficora.fi/en

France

FR

Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes

http://www.arcep.fr

Germany

DE

Bundesnetzagentur

http://www.bundesnetzagentur.de

Greece

EL

Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission

http://www.eett.gr/opencms/opencms/EETT_EN/index.html

Hungary

HU

National Media and Infocommunication Authority

http://www.nmhh.hu

Iceland

IS

Post and Telecom Administration

http://www.pfs.is/default.aspx?cat_id=101

Ireland

IE

Commission for Communications Regulation

http://www.comreg.ie

Italy

IT

Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni

http://www.agcom.it

Lichtenstein

LI

Office for Communications

http://www.llv.li/amtsstellen/llv-ak-english-page.htm

Lithuania

LT

Communications Regulatory Authority

http://www.rrt.lt/en/home.html

Luxembourg

LU

Institut luxembourgeois de régulation

http://www.ilr.public.lu

Latvia

LV

Elektronisko sakaru direkcija

https://www.vases.lv/lv/content/juras-sakaru-atlaujas

Malta

MT

Malta Communications Authority

http://www.mca.org.mt

Holland

NL

Autoriteit Consument & Markt

https://www.acm.nl/nl

Norway

NO

Norwegian Communications Authority

http://www.nkom.no

Poland

PL

Prezes Urzędu Komunikacji Elektronicznej

http://www.uke.gov.pl

Portugal

PT

Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações

https://www.anacom.pt

Romania

RO

National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications of Romania

http://www.ancom.org.ro/en

Slovenia

SI

Agency for communication networks and services of the Republic of Slovenia

http://www.akos-rs.si/akos-ang

Slovakia

SK

Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic

http://www.teleoff.gov.sk/index.php?ID=9

Spain

ES

Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia

https://www.cnmc.es/en

Sweden

SE

Swedish Post and Telecom Authority

http://www.pts.se

Switzerland

CH

Office fédéral de la communication

http://www.bakom.admin.ch/themen/frequenzen/00689/01563/index.html?lang=fr

Turkey

TR

Information And Communication Technologies Authority

http://eng.btk.gov.tr

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland

UK(NI)

OFCOM

http://www.ofcom.org.uk