VHF

Marine VHF radio call signs are issued for vessels operating within New Zealand waters only. New Zealand registered vessels heading off shore require a Ships Radio Licence. Please contact Coastguard Boating Education.

Update existing call sign

New call sign application

Important message to all owners and users of VHF radios

All users of Marine VHF are required to hold a minimum of a Marine VHF Operators Qualification (an exception is made for radio use only in emergency or distress situations). To find out how to obtain this simple qualification, contact Coastguard Boating Education on 0800 40 80 90 or email info@cbes.org.nz.

All radio transmissions are required to be "individually identifiable". Countries throughout the world have adopted the marine VHF call sign system as being the best option available.

Marine VHF call signs are held on a national database and are used solely for Search and Rescue purposes.

Marine VHF call signs for recreational and commercial boaties are available from Coastguard Boating Education, who maintain the database on behalf of Radio Spectrum Management; a division of the Ministry of Economic Development.

There is a charge of $30. To obtain your call sign, either print off the call sign application form above, or contact Coastguard Boating Education - phone 0900 54332 to automatically charge the $30 to the telephone account you are calling from; or free phone 0800 40 80 90 to provide credit card details.

Should any of your personal details change or if you change vessels you must advise Coastguard Boating Education. Phone 0800 40 80 90 to update your records.

When you sell your vessel you have two options:

  1. You can keep the call sign; in which case you must inform the new owner that you are keeping the call sign and that he/she must obtain a NEW call sign.
  2. or You can let the call sign stay with the vessel. Either way you MUST advise Coastguard Boating Education.

Ships Radio Licences

A ships radio licence is required for vessels equipped with MF/HF (SSB) and/or marine VHF radio that are going off shore.
To obtain an application form, contact Coastguard Boating Education (info@cbes.org.nz). Click here to download.

A Maritime Ship (radio) Licence consists of a licence number, a call sign number, an MMSI number and depending on the vessel type, a radio telex number. The Maritime Ship Licence is an individual radio licence granted to the owner of the vessel.
The licence recorded in the online Register of Radio Frequencies (RRF) is recognized by overseas administrations under agreements with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). A certified extract of the maritime ship licence can be printed from the RRF (www.rsm.med.govt.nz) as evidence to provide to overseas port authorities. A “Ship” describes any vessel from a small run-about to an ocean going cargo vessel.

Vessels that require a ships radio licence include:

  1. Commercial vessels (New Zealand registered) that are operating within New Zealand waters or going off shore
  2. Recreational vessels (New Zealand registered) going offshore
  3. Compulsory equipped vessels that use Morse code
  4. Compulsory equipped vessels that use radio telephone for charter services and public transport

Note:

  1. Commercial and New Zealand registered vessels seeking special call signs or four-letter call signs (e.g. ZMAB) should contact Radio Spectrum on 04 462 4245 or email info@rsm.govt.nz.
  2. New Zealand call signs can only be issued to vessels registered in New Zealand. If the vessel is registered overseas then you must contact the licensing authority of that country to obtain a callsign.
  3. Only persons, who are New Zealand citizens, or permanent residents of New
       Zealand    , may be granted a New Zealand maritime call sign. Please provide a copy of proof of New Zealand citizenship or residency with this application. To operate a MF/HF (SSB) radio, a Maritime Restricted Operator Certificate (MROC) is the minimum requirement.
  4. Full details are recorded in the Register of Radio Frequencies and made available for public inspection. This includes the name and address of the licence holder. Clients have the right to request that their residential address be withheld from public access. Requests must be made in writing to the Registrar of Radio Frequencies, Private Bag 92061, Auckland.


Payment:

The current annual licence fee is $350* for recreational and commercial vessels. The fee must be paid in advance before the licence is issued.  Once payment has been validated the licence is automatically granted and an email sent to the address supplied. Coastguard Boating Education has an additional $30 fee for administering the licence application. Both payments will be deducted from the credit card details you have supplied. Only Visa or Mastercard credit cards will be accepted as a form of payment.
*The annual licence fee refers to the billing month when you are first registered as a client of Radio Spectrum Management.


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