Maritime radio transmitters

Ship Station Licence

A Ship Station Licence is required to hold and use a maritime radio transmitter on board a ship. The licence is issued by FICORA based on a written application.

The Ship Station Licence includes a list of the vessels radio transmitters operating on maritime radio frequencies. Such transmitters are for example VHF radiotelephones, navigation radars, EPIRBs and SARTs.

The Ship Station Licence also contains the international ship station call sign. For ships licensed in Finland the letters OF, OG, OH, OI or OJ precede the call sign. When required, the international Maritime Mobile Service Identification (MMSI) can be included in the licence. The MMSI is used for identification in systems such as DSC and EPIRBs.

If the vessel has a transmitter in which an MMSI has already been coded, it is necessary to explain this when applying for the Ship Station Licence.

The Ship Station Licence entitles to use the equipment only in the vessel for which the licence has been issued. The licence and the appropriate operator certificate shall be kept in the vicinity of the ship's radio transmitters.

Ship station licence application form (Word) [DOT, 97 KB]
Ship station licence application form [PDF, 108 KB]

Fees

The holder of a Ship Station Licence has to pay an annual frequency fee. Examples of the fees:

- Annual fee for a ship equipped with a maritime VHF radiotelephone: €19.43
- Annual fee for a ship equipped with a maritime VHF radiotelephone and a radar: €19.43
- Annual fee for a ship equipped with an MF/HF radio, a maritime VHF radiotelephone and a radar: €38.86

Multiplying the same equipment (e.g. two VHF radiotelephones instead of one) does not increase the fee.

The fee is invoiced annually and in advance. For a short term licence the minimum fee is €16.00