NEWS | Wednesday, 23 January 2008

Annual licence fee for marine VHF radios removed as from this year

A marine licensing rationalisation exercise to promote safety of life at sea and to introduce one-stop-shop services has been implemented as from 1 January this year.
As from this year, marine VHF radios – that is, 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 was announced by Censu Galea, Minister for Competitiveness and Communications, during a press conference on the rationalization of maritime radio licensing regime.
He explained that over 3500 licencees will benefit 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 did not mean that the conditions of use of these radios no longer applied. These were now set out in a general authorisation published under the Radio Communications Act (LN 7/2008). All radio owners have been 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 (MCA) prior to being used or sold in Malta.
The use of non-approved radios may disrupt search and rescue operations, with the attendant serious consequences. Such a breach of the general authorisation would subject the radio owner to sanctions.
The MCA, which is 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.
Moreover, the fees for GMDSS installations complying with the SOLAS convention have been reduced from €419.29 (Lm180) to €115 (Lm49.37). The fees for marine MF/HF radios and ship earth stations have been reduced from €174.70 (Lm75) as follows: vessels of less than 24 metres in length overall will pay €35.00 (Lm15.03), while vessels equal to or more than 24 metres in length overall will pay €115.00 (Lm49.37).
The same fees mentioned above also apply for those ship owners who wish to be granted with a provisional operational/non-operational radio licence.
During the press conference, Censu Galea also announced that a one-stop-shop service for owners of such radios had also been introduced and these licences are now being issued and renewed at the Merchant Shipping Directorate of the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) which is also responsible for the registration of the vessels on which this type of equipment is installed.
Furthermore, as all marine radios required the assignment of identities in order to be operated effectively in cases of distress or emergency, a one-stop-shop service for the assignment of such identities has been introduced.
In the next few weeks, such identities will be issued by the Authority responsible for registering the vessel from which the radio will be used – either the Merchant Shipping Directorate or the Yachting Directorate of the MMA; or the Fisheries and Aquaculture Branch of the Ministry for Rural Affairs and Environment.
Therefore, in the near future, with the implementation of the one-stop-shop services related to the assignment of identities, no services regarding marine radio-communications equipment will continue to be provided from Evans Building (the former Wireless Telegraphy Department).
Ships may be registered with the MMA either under the Small Ships Regulations or the Merchant Shipping Act, and/or the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.
There has been no revision of fees under the Small Ships Regulation or the Fisheries Conservation and Management Act to reflect the streamlining of ship registration with the radio licence
Therefore all craft registered under this regulation, which are already licenced in terms of the Radiocommunications Act, will benefit in a reduction of ‘aggregate’ fees payable.
The fees payable in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act have been revised to reflect this streamlining process integrating, as may be applicable, radiocommunication fees.