As from this year, marine VHF radios – the radios most commonly fitted on Maltese-registered small ships, fishing boats and pleasure craft – will no longer be subject to an individual licence, and instead will be covered by a general authorisation. This means that the annual licence fee and most other processes in place under the individual licensing system have been abolished.
This is a result of the marine licensing rationalisation exercise to promote safety of life at sea and to introduce one-stop-shop services which have been implemented as from 1 January, 2008.
Competitiveness and Communications Minister Censu Galea announced this during a press conference on the rationalisation of the maritime radio licensing regime.
Mr Galea said that over 3,500 licensees would be benefiting from this change. “Most importantly the new rules should encourage boat owners to purchase and install marine radio equipment, as installing such equipment and using it correctly will greatly increase safety of life at sea by facilitating safety and rescue operations.”
The introduction of the general authorisation does not mean that the conditions of use of these radios no longer apply. These are now set out in a general authorisation published under the Radio Communications Act (LN 7/2008). All radio owners are required to comply with the general authorisation.
Current and prospective radio owners must be aware that as these radios are used for safety of life at sea purposes it is critically important that they are approved by the Malta Communications Authority prior to being used or sold in Malta. The use of non-approved radios may disrupt search and rescue operations, with attendant serious consequences. Such a breach of the general authorisation would subject the radio owner to sanctions.
The Malta Communications Authority, the authority responsible for the regulation of radio equipment, has already made available detailed information regarding the application of the new regime to all licence holders. This information is available on the authority’s website.
Apart from this, the fees for GMDSS installations complying with the SOLAS convention have been reduced from e419.29 (Lm180) to e115 (Lm49.37).
The fees for marine MF/HF radios and ship earth stations have been reduced from e174.70 (Lm75) as follows:
vessels of less than 24 metres in length overall – e35 (Lm15.03)
vessels equal to or more than 24 metres in length overall – e115 (Lm49.37)
The same fees also apply for ship owners who wish to be granted a provisional operational / non-operational radio licence.
Mr Galea also announced that a one-stop-shop service for owners of such radios has also been introduced and these licences are now being issued and renewed at the Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Malta Maritime Authority which is also responsible for the registration of the vessels on which this type of equipment is installed.