• Do I need a Callsign/Radio Station Licence for a Boat or Vessel?
• How do I obtain a Radio Station Licence?
• Do I need a Radio Operator's Certificate?
• What is an MMSI Number?
• What is an EPIRB?
• What is a VHF-DSC radio?
• Will fitting a VHF-DSC radio cause my vessel to be tracked by others?
• What is an NMEA input?

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/h_sf01775e.html

If the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999, do not apply to your vessel and you have fitted marine radio apparatus on your own volition, obtain a copy of IC-2378 - Application for a Maritime Mobile Radio Station Licence for a Voluntarily Fitted Ship from Industry Canada at:

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf06053e.html

If your vessel is required by the Ship Station (Radio) Regulations, 1999 to fit marine radio apparatus, obtain a copy of IC-2392: Application for a Licence to Install and Operate a Transmitting and Receiving Station on Board a Compulsorily Fitted Ship Registered or Licensed in Canada from Industry Canada at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf06054e.html

You should forward your completed application to Industry Canada. A list of Industry Canada offices is provided in Radiocommunication Information Circular RIC-66 at: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf01742e.html

Marine radiotelephones fitted onboard Canadian vessels, must be operated by a person holding a Radio Operator's Certificate (ROC-M). Commercial vessels required to fit Digital Selective Calling or a satellite ship earth station must employ radio operators holding a Radio Operator's Certificate - Maritime Commercial (ROC-MC).

Industry Canada has delegated the ROC-M to the Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons and courses are available in many areas. Further information can be found on the CPS website at:

http://www.cps-ecp.ca/english/index.html

MMSI stands for Maritime Mobile Service Identity and is used for radios with digital selective calling, as well as AIS transponders. You can obtain an MMSI number free-of-charge from any Industry Canada office. The application forms are available at:

http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/vwGeneratedInterE/sf01032e.html

An EPIRB is an Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon. The EPIRB's 406 MHz signal is relayed by satellite to Search and Rescue. To be effective, a 406 MHz EPIRB must be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry. Registration information is available at:

http://www.nss.gc.ca/site/cospas-sarsat/emergencyBeacon_e.asp

DSC means Digital Selective Calling. VHF-DSC radios function as a normal VHF radio, but are also capable of sending and receiving digital messages on VHF channel 70. Selective calls can be made to one vessel or groups of vessels, and, by lifting the cover and then pressing the red distress button for at least 3 seconds, a digital distress call will be sent to the Coast Guard and vessels in the vicinity that are also equipped with VHF-DSC. If you connect a GPS to your VHF-DSC, this digital distress call will contain an up-to-date position. Certain models of VHF-DSC can also respond to position polls from other VHF-DSC radios.

More information on VHF-DSC can be found in Ship Safety Bulletin 2002/04 at:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/bulletins/2002/04_e.htm

No. Some VHF-DSC radios will allow for an automatic response to a position poll from another VHF-DSC, but this feature must be enabled by the operator. The Automatic Identification System, or AIS, is used for this purpose, as well as vessel traffic management and collision avoidance.

An NMEA input refers to a standardized serial communication interface between various types of marine equipment. As an example, it is the NMEA output of a GPS that provides a position input to a VHF-DSC, or to your chartplotter. Some GPS receivers are capable of various types of data outputs and, at various data rates. Refer to the operator's manual for both your GPS and the equipment requiring a GPS input to ensure the settings between the two pieces of equipment are compatible. There is more information about GPS interfaces (in English only) at:

http://vancouver-webpages.com/peter/