Following a 10 week public consultation, Ofcom has decided to:

Issue ship radio licences that are valid for the life of the vessel, removing the requirement for radio users to purchase a licence each year.

Provide a web-based licensing service as an alternative to the postal service.

Issue electronic licences to users online, free of charge.

Require licensees to confirm their licence details at least once every 10 years.

Dispense with the requirement to display the licence disc; however, a copy of the licence must be kept on board the vessel.

Ofcom will continue to make paper licences available for applicants who do not have access to, or prefer not to use, the internet. There may be an administration fee for this service.

The full policy statement can be found at:

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/consult/condocs/src/statement


Ships’ radio is used for the safe navigation of vessels and for making distress calls in emergency situations. Ofcom estimates that 20% of ships’ radio equipment is unlicensed nationally.

Ofcom believes that the introduction of the new electronic licensing regime, due to begin on 1 October 2006, will reduce the extent of unlicensed equipment use.