For many years, radio communications have played an extremely important role in improving safety at sea. With today's new radio technologies, the sending and receiving of all kinds of messages has been made even simpler and better. This section is designed to establish clearly those aspects of maritime radio communications that are considered to be mandatory knowledge for users who have any relation with the sea and navigation, and includes information on the radio equipment which is or will be necessary on board boats depending on the area in which they navigate, current applicable regulations, the administrative procedures necessary for their use, and installation, etc.
Legislation on radio communication
The MMSI is the number which identifies each boat station for the purposes of safety and telecommunications, and which must be programmed in the automatic radio communications equipment on the boat and in the satellite radio beacons.
The Boat Station License is the document which certifies that a boat may use a specific radio communications unit installed on board.
The satellite radio beacons installed on Spanish ships must be recorded in the database of the Department of the Merchant Navy, which is in permanent connection with the maritime rescue services.
Any transmitter which is to be installed on a Spanish ship must be authorised by the Department of the Merchant Navy. The applications for installation must be addressed by the owner of the boat, its representative, or an authorised party, to the Maritime Authority of the port where the installation is to be done.
The radio equipment on board the ships must comply with the manufacturing standards for the type of equipment in question.
This section includes the list of equipment which is mandatory on boats, according to their classification in the Central Maritime Boat Registry of the Department of the Merchant Navy.
All companies or natural persons who perform any installation, maintenance or repair service on the maritime radio-electric equipment on a boat must be in possession of an authorisation granted by the Department of the Merchant Navy.
