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Post by michael1923 on Jan 19, 2009 23:54:27 GMT
Hold on there, i am incorrect if the skipper faints etc, that could just be a PAN PAN call as it's not an immediate danger to life.
I correct myself before anyone else does.
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Post by ferryman on Jan 20, 2009 20:49:26 GMT
I have to agree with Salar and the other pro licence advocates.
It is one of those things you pray you never need, but the day you do you will be glad you took the trouble.
I even got the wife to do the course because god forbid anything happens to me out on the water I want her to know how to summon help as quickly as possible.
And with anybody new on the boat we have a quick run through of the emergency procedures and use of radio before we leave the jetty
Anyway these cold wet weekends are an ideal opportunity to spend a day learning something new.
Sits back and waits for incomming
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Post by solentranger on Jan 20, 2009 21:07:01 GMT
I dont think anyone is disagreeing with Salar. If you look back through the posts you'll see that Salar disagreed with the comment that there are more small angling boats operating VHF's without licenses than with.
No one is promoting or suggesting the un-licensed use of VHF radio, I am simply stating that you are better off going to sea with a VHF than without one.
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Post by squideyebarnes on Jan 20, 2009 22:34:31 GMT
I thought you had to have the new DSC radio? as a legal requirement now as its linked through your GPS and gives exact position in an emergency call!Also if you have a license or not its always good to have a plastic covered print of the most important emergency procedures for the radio so even crew can use it if the skipper can't.And in a panic it is written for you to copy will make it much easier!
Andy.
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Post by ferryman on Jan 21, 2009 6:49:25 GMT
I am sure your right about there being more without licences than with. Lets face it there is no restriction on the sale of VHF sets. If you have the money they will sell you one. I agree also that a laminated copy of the phonetic alphabet is a good idea. Together with your call sign and mmsi number. Oooppppps forgot you need a licence to have those last 2 This is MVDE7 "Over"  |
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Salar
crew member
Live to Fish
Posts: 98
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Post by Salar on Jan 21, 2009 8:59:27 GMT
I am not so hung up about licensing everyone, I am more concerned about taking safety seriously when on the water. Having a VHF without taking the course and getting the certificate is, to me, not taking safety seriously. I have had first hand experience of the devastation a drowning at sea can cause a family. Someone I knew well lost her father in a drowning accident off Selsey, on a sunny, calm June day, about 200 yards from shore. Both the father and a friend of his drowned when somehow they fell out of a small boat. Neither they, nor the other small boats crews near them, had sufficient safety equipment or knowledge to save them. Now two families have lost much loved fathers, and my friend's children will never know what it is like to have a grandad. If you think I am preaching, I'm sorry if it sounds like that. I just don't want to happen to other people and if we can all spread the word about safety, maybe we can make a difference. "Salar Out".
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Post by michael1923 on Jan 21, 2009 15:19:02 GMT
Update.
If you need to generate a ships radio license to recieve an MMSI number this can be done free of charge on the ofcom website. However if you use the paper based form that can be downloaded instead of the online form you will inccur a £20 charge. The license is for life and registers the radio to the vessel.
This is different to the operators license.
I have just spoken to their office and was informed when filling in the application it will ask you if the vessel has ever had a vhf radio onboard, if you can answer no to this it will generate you an MMSI number.
It is illegal to operate a vhf radio without an operators license however this does not cover the use of a vhf radio in the event of EMERGENCY or DISTRESS as long as the radio is licensed (free online).
I hope this helps everyone who reads this now.
One final point it is highly recommended to do the course even though it is not illegal to use the radio in an emergency, it would be very beneficial to know the protocol.
As Andy has stated it is best practice to have a template near the radio to read in the event of an emergency with just the blanks to fill in as required. Also as already metioned a quick safety brief should really be a must if taking out newcomers on your boat.
Thats me out too.
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Post by Pete B on Jan 21, 2009 19:03:50 GMT
I am not so hung up about licensing everyone, I am more concerned about taking safety seriously when on the water. Having a VHF without taking the course and getting the certificate is, to me, not taking safety seriously. I have had first hand experience of the devastation a drowning at sea can cause a family. Someone I knew well lost her father in a drowning accident off Selsey, on a sunny, calm June day, about 200 yards from shore. Both the father and a friend of his drowned when somehow they fell out of a small boat. Neither they, nor the other small boats crews near them, had sufficient safety equipment or knowledge to save them. Now two families have lost much loved fathers, and my friend's children will never know what it is like to have a grandad. If you think I am preaching, I'm sorry if it sounds like that. I just don't want to happen to other people and if we can all spread the word about safety, maybe we can make a difference. "Salar Out". Shocking, what a pity. Its in all our best interest to put element of safety in our favour. Update. If you need to generate a ships radio license to recieve an MMSI number this can be done free of charge on the ofcom website. However if you use the paper based form that can be downloaded instead of the online form you will inccur a £20 charge. The license is for life and registers the radio to the vessel. This is different to the operators license. I have just spoken to their office and was informed when filling in the application it will ask you if the vessel has ever had a vhf radio onboard, if you can answer no to this it will generate you an MMSI number. It is illegal to operate a vhf radio without an operators license however this does not cover the use of a vhf radio in the event of EMERGENCY or DISTRESS as long as the radio is licensed (free online). I hope this helps everyone who reads this now. One final point it is highly recommended to do the course even though it is not illegal to use the radio in an emergency, it would be very beneficial to know the protocol. As Andy has stated it is best practice to have a template near the radio to read in the event of an emergency with just the blanks to fill in as required. Also as already metioned a quick safety brief should really be a must if taking out newcomers on your boat. Thats me out too. Great informative post |
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Post by Dave.S on Jan 22, 2009 1:19:06 GMT
If anyone wants a copy of the emergency procedure to put in the wheelhouse or by the wheel go here www.fishing-boats.info/ and click on "Safety on a Boat" menu. At the bottom of the page you can print a copy or download a copy and fill in the blanks and then print it out and laminate if you wish. I did one on A5 paper size. An alternative is to get the FREE safety information pack from the RNLI and they have a small self adhesive sticker in the pack. Dave  |
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Post by swampduck on Jan 23, 2009 22:16:26 GMT
the regs on the licence changed recently. The user course and resulting licence is lifelong. I strongly suggest you look at the OFCOM website as it gives clear guidance. You need to register your radio with them. If it is DSC (digital) radio they will then give you a unique code to input into your radio...that way should the S*** hit the fan and you call mayday the code will be seen - it gives the emergency services a bit more info. Can i also suggest you register your boat, callsign etc with the coastguard on a CG66 (i think?) this gives the search teams a description of the boat, colour etc and other really key facts (including next of kin). I have put the detail of my CG form on my trailer that way, should anything happen and someone finds my car and trailer at the slip they will be able to contact solent coastguard who have a full description of my boat
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Post by littlejoe1974 on Jan 25, 2009 17:56:17 GMT
as the instigator of this thread i have now had my eyes opened very wide indeed, the posters who have took the time to read and respond to this thread thank you for your input and the rest of you who have took the time to read and maybe, like me, picked up a lot of good information, advice and links to relevant web sites then try putting more threads on the forum because i have to say that i had only found out about the forum recently through a boat fishing magazine and can honestly say it is a haven of good informative debate material and informative links and advice for the most novice to the most experienced of us all :cheers:
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Post by hammyloz on Apr 14, 2009 14:53:56 GMT
well a message to all you pro licencees i am actually with michael1923 on this one in some degree i WILL NOT take the rya exam as i am an ex signaller in the british army and know more about vhf and radio procedure than they do,i certainly wouldnt spend my money on something i already know,and yes i use my radio at sea i have lost count the number of times i have helped the lifeboat out and also had to call them out myself.as one poster said and supplied website,learn correct radio procedure and you will be fine,and yes i know im gonna get slated for this post but imagine this one if you was in the royal navy and captained large warships but are no longer in the navy and someone said to you that to take your 20ft fishing boat out you need to take a course what would your reply be?  ? |
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Post by wayner on Apr 16, 2009 21:14:21 GMT
Took my operators course (DSC included) a couple of years ago. Only took a short day. Was through Havant College. Cost £15 plus £17 for licence. Search colleges in your area for all types of boat related courses as some are an absolute bargain. My thinking was that taking my daughter, my family, my friends & their children out on my boat meant i had an obligation to learn the correct & proper way/procedure in which to use the radio in the event of an emergency.
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Post by hammyloz on May 9, 2009 18:39:14 GMT
well said buddy
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