with the ship station with which it is associated. Such associated ship units MAY NOT be
operated from shore.
ii)The transmitting power is limited to ONE WATT only.
iii)The hand held transceiver must be identified by the call sign of the ship station along with its
associated unit designator.
b)Portable Ship Station: The Commission may grant a station license permitting operation of a
portable ship station aboard different vessels of the United States. Each application (FCC
Form 506-Application for a Ship Radio Station License) for a portable ship station license must
include a showing that:
i)The station will be operated aboard a vessel.
ii)A station license for portable equipment is necessary to eliminate separate applications to
operate a ship station aboard different vessels.
c)Marine Utility Station: A utility station in the maritime mobile service consists of one or more
hand held transceiver units licensed under a single authorization. Each unit is capable of
operating while being hand carried by an individual. There are two types of stations authorized:
i)Marine Utility Coast-when transmitters are located on land; may communicate directly to
vessels only.
ii)Marine Utility Coast/Ship-transmitters from land may communicate with vessels or when
aboard a vessel, may communicate with other vessels or coast stations.
NOTE: A Marine Utility Ship license will not be authorized.
The station operates under the rules applicable to a private coast station when the unit (s) are
on land and under the rules applicable to a ship station when the unit (s) are aboard a vessel.
FCC Form 503, application for Land Radio Station License is used when applying for a marine
utility License.
USAGE GUIDE
Emergency Calling Monitoring Intership Safety U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Port Operations
Noncommercial Commercial Marine Operator State Control Environmental Weather
Emergency
Channel 16
If:
Your ship is sinking, or on fire
Someone has been lost overboard
There exists grave and imminent danger
Use this distress procedure:
Select Channel 16
Say "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday."
Give call sign and boat name
Give location of boat
Describe emergency
If no answer, repeat; then try and other channel
Caution:
Ever ship at sea is obliged to give absolute priority to radio communications relating to ships
distress-it is vital that false distress calls or messages not be broadcast.
Calling
Channel 16 & Working Channel
If-you wish to establish communications with another station
And-you know which working channel the station is monitoring
Then-initiate the call directly on that working channel
If-you wish to establish communications with another station
And-you do not know what working channel the station may be monitoring
