Re: [Paddlewise] Ch 16 and DSC

To quote directly from the 2004 (rev/05) edition of Maritme Radio Course
manual  by Canadian Power & Sail Squadrons (who train and administer
tests for the Maritime Restricted Operator's Certificates on behalf of
the Cdn government)

"When a vessel ...is in the sovereign territory of any foreign
administration, the provisions of the ITU apply, which requires that all
stations
be licensed unless there is a treaty between the administrations
involved.  In 1999, Canada entered into negotiations with the Unitied States
for a reciprocal agreement to exempt the requirement for a station
license for ...boaters crossing the border into the USA.  However, due to
09/11, and continuing homeland security issues, more pressing matters
have taken the forefront and an agreement was not reached. ...
Industry Canada is hopeful that we will have a Canadian / USA agreement
in the future.  In the meantime boaters are advised that when
travelling in USA waters, a radio station license and an operator's
certificate to operate the radio are required to fully comply with
international law."

The course instructor, and power squadron participants with crafts
rather larger than mine  ;^)  indicated that USCG response to a distress
could be contingent on being licenced.

When DSC is used (either for automatic distress alerting, or as part of
a routine call to another vessel), the MMSI - your unique Maritime
Mobile Service Identity - immediately discloses your country of origin.

As per Craig & Dave's insights I'm not going to lose sleep about taking
my unlicensed VHF marine radio across the middle of the Detroit river
and will count on the goodwill and common sense of the FCC and USCG.

JohnC



cholst_at_bitstream.net wrote:

>In addition to what Dave and Craig said, I should point out that the FCC
>has not for many years required citizens to have a license to transmit
>over a VHF marine radio, so I cannot imagine why they should require it of
>Canadians paddling in U.S. waters. Nor can I imagine why 9/11 should have
>anything to do with such a regulation.
>
>However, the current administration has proven to have a much different
>imagination than mine...
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