Rick wrote in
ink.net:

Jack Painter wrote:

Larry, all I could find was information regarding compulsory GMDSS
ships. Is there a listing you are aware of for voluntary-equipped
GMDSS? HF is the issue, of course ;-)

Unless Larry holds, and is required to hold, a current USCG license as
a merchant marine officer with an STCW certificate endorsed as a radio
operator he only holds the GMDSS tickets for ego purposes. No one else
needs one unless they work for a shorebased maintenance firm doing
work on GMDSS equipment on ships. He obviously doesn't understand the
GMDSS system concept and is posting nonsense.

You are posting the nonsense. See my other post and READ THE REGS I posted
there. You must NOT operate any GMDSS on a LICENSED SHIP STATION until you
have the GMDSS Operator's License, even if your boat is a goddamn rowboat!

You must also read the regulations to understand that you do NOT have to be
a STCW radio operator to be a licensed GMDSS operator. READ THE REGS in
references I posted to another responder.....it's all there.

The old unionized radio operators are now a dead issue once compulsory
ships get rid of their Morse equipment. Most ROs are not being renewed in
their cushy union jobs.


If you want reliable information that applies to you and your
particular circumstances just Google "gmdss voluntary station operator
license"

There are plenty of pages. Here is a link that pretty much states what
Larry would have known if he had any training and held the license for
anything other than some kind of redneck ham radio bragging rights:

http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/cvib-2.doc

Training, Licensing and Certification

The Master and all Mates on SOLAS vessels are now required to hold the
FCC GMDSS Radio Operator?s License (GOC) for Sea Areas A2, A3
(Inmarsat coverage), and A4 (polar regions) or the Restricted GMDSS
Radio Operator?s License (ROC) for operations in Sea Area A1. They
must also hold a Coast Guard STCW 95 GMDSS endorsement. The STCW
endorsement requires mandatory training and demonstrated ability to
operate all GMDSS systems. Most small commercial vessels are not
required to be STCW compliant, however, and are permitted to use any
GMDSS equipment without mandated GMDSS training. Small commercial
vessels mandated to carry radio for safety reasons are required to
hold a radio station license and the appropriate operator permits.
Vessels subject to the Bridge-to-Bridge act are also required to hold
a radio station license.


Old information. CG has turned GMDSS operator and maintainer licensing
over to the FCC. There's a reference to just this point on the FCC
webpages I quoted to another responder.

Larry