Module 1 - Licensing & SRC Exam
Licence, Certificate, And Equipment Are Different Things
What you will learn
Match the station licence, operator documents, call sign, MMSI and physical radio to the distinct job each performs.
Marine radio legality and safety are a chain, not one document: licensed equipment, an accurate station identity, a competent operator and the required documents must agree.
The Ship Radio or Ship Portable Radio Licence authorises the station and the equipment listed under its terms. The Maritime Radio Operator's Certificate of Competence and valid Authority to Operate concern the person. The call sign and MMSI identify the station or equipment during voice and digital communication; they are not qualifications.
Ofcom's current terms require the licence, relevant operator certificate, Authority to Operate and notices of variation to be kept with or near the licensed equipment where physically practicable. They must accompany the equipment when the vessel is taken abroad.
One link cannot substitute for another. An SRC holder cannot lawfully operate undeclared or incorrectly licensed equipment merely because they are qualified, and a correctly licensed station does not make every crew member a qualified operator.
| Item | Controls or identifies | Do not confuse it with |
|---|---|---|
| Ship Radio Licence | Station and listed equipment on a named vessel | The operator qualification |
| Ship Portable Radio Licence | Specified portable equipment under territorial and use limits | Permission to use any radio anywhere |
| SRC + Authority to Operate | The operator's VHF/VHF-DSC authority and competence | The station licence |
| Call sign | The licensed ship station in voice traffic | An MMSI or certificate |
| MMSI | A nine-digit digital identity used by DSC and related equipment | Proof of ownership or competence |
| Radio equipment | The actual transmitting and receiving apparatus | Authority to use an undeclared or mismatched installation |
Audit the complete authority chain
Before an overseas passage, the skipper finds a licence PDF, a radio showing an MMSI and an SRC card, but has not checked whether the MMSI, vessel name and equipment list agree.
1. Identify the station
Match vessel name, call sign and ship MMSI to the current Ship Radio Licence.
2. Identify the operator
Confirm the person controlling routine use holds the relevant certificate and Authority to Operate, or directly supervises the operator.
3. Identify the equipment
Match installed and portable transmitting equipment to the licence and carry the required documents near the station.
Sense check: A matching MMSI alone does not prove the licence holder, equipment list or operator authority is current.
Common mistake or limitation
- Calling the SRC a Ship Radio Licence or treating the MMSI as proof of operator competence.
- Checking only the document names instead of matching their vessel, person and equipment details.
- Assuming one qualified operator cures an inaccurate licence or station identity.
Recap
- Station licence: authorises the station and equipment under its terms.
- Certificate and Authority to Operate: evidence the operator's authority and competence.
- Call sign and MMSI: identify the station or equipment; they are not qualifications.
- The physical set, its programmed identity, the licence and the operator documents must agree.
Optional quick check
Section 4 of 9
Which item proves that the person controlling ordinary VHF/DSC operation holds the relevant operator authority?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 31 August 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
Continue studying Licensing & SRC Exam
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