GMDSS Radio Surveys

It is an inspection of a vessel's radio installation to confirm it meets SOLAS Chapter IV and the flag state's rules. We test the VHF, MF/HF and DSC radios, satellite terminals, NAVTEX, EPIRB, SARTs or AIS-SARTs, portable GMDSS VHFs, antennas and reserve power, review the radio log, and record the results on your classification society's survey forms.

Ships covered by SOLAS Chapter IV: cargo ships of 300 GT and over and passenger ships on international voyages. Commercial yachts certified under the REG Yacht Code (or the older LY3 and LY2 codes) also need radio surveys, as do vessels whose flag state or class society requires one. Pleasure yachts not engaged in trade are exempt from SOLAS, but many owners still have their radios surveyed for flag, insurance or charter requirements.

For cargo ships, the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate needs a periodical survey within 3 months before or after each anniversary date, plus a renewal survey at least every 5 years. Passenger ships have a renewal survey every year. Commercial yachts follow their flag state and yacht code, which is normally an annual survey. We recommend booking about a month before your survey window opens.

A radio service supplier approved by your vessel's classification society or flag state, under IACS Unified Requirement Z17. For example, a RINA-classed vessel needs a RINA-approved radio firm. Aquatic Navigation is approved by ABS, Lloyd's Register, Bureau Veritas, RINA and DNV, and our surveys are accepted by the flag states that recognize those approvals.

Having these on hand keeps the survey short:

• Current Safety Radio Certificate (or Passenger Ship Safety Certificate) and Record of Equipment
• Ship Station License and MMSI
• EPIRB registration and the shore-based maintenance certificate
• In-date batteries and hydrostatic release for the EPIRB, SARTs and portable GMDSS VHFs
• An up-to-date GMDSS radio log
• GMDSS operator certificates (GOC or ROC) for the crew
• Your shore-based maintenance agreement, if that is one of your maintenance methods

Sea areas decide which radio equipment a ship must carry.

A1: within range of a VHF DSC coast station, typically 20 to 30 nautical miles from shore.

A2: outside A1 but within range of an MF DSC coast station, typically about 100 to 150 nautical miles.

A3: outside A1 and A2 but within coverage of a recognized mobile satellite service (Inmarsat or Iridium).

A4: everything outside A1, A2 and A3, which is essentially the polar regions.

SOLAS Chapter IV, Regulation 15 allows three methods: duplication of equipment, shore-based maintenance, and at-sea electronic maintenance. Ships operating in Sea Areas A1 and A2 need at least one of these. Ships operating in Sea Areas A3 and A4 need at least two. A common combination is duplication of equipment plus a shore-based maintenance agreement.

A 406 MHz EPIRB must be tested every year, during the radio survey window, under SOLAS Regulation IV/15.9 and IMO MSC/Circ.1040. It also needs shore-based maintenance at intervals of no more than 5 years under MSC/Circ.1039. Make sure the battery and hydrostatic release are in date and that the registration matches the vessel's current name, MMSI and owner. We test EPIRBs, SARTs and AIS units on board.

It depends on the yacht's tonnage, how far it operates from a safe haven, and which yacht code and flag it follows. Commercial yachts of 300 GT and over under the REG Yacht Code generally need GMDSS equipment for the sea areas they operate in, much like a SOLAS ship. Smaller yachts have reduced requirements. Our Regulations page (in the menu above) covers the REG Yacht Code, LY3, LY2 and flag state requirements in detail.

Yes. U.S.-flag vessels that are required to carry radio equipment need FCC inspections, documented on FCC Form 824 (Communications Act Safety Radiotelephony Certificate), Form 827 (Vessel Bridge-to-Bridge Radiotelephony Certificate) or Form 829 (Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate). We perform these inspections and renewals. See our FCC Licensing page for the licensing steps.

If the tender travels to foreign waters, such as the Bahamas, the Caribbean or the Mediterranean, and has a VHF/DSC radio or AIS installed, yes. A free recreational MMSI from BoatUS or U.S. Power Squadrons is only valid in U.S. waters. The tender needs its own FCC Ship Station License and an FCC-issued MMSI, and its radios must be reprogrammed with the new number. We can handle both.

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has 12 members: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Bureau Veritas (BV), China Classification Society (CCS), Croatian Register of Shipping (CRS), DNV, Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), Korean Register (KR), Lloyd's Register (LR), Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), Polski Rejestr Statkow (PRS), Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) and Turk Loydu. Their Unified Requirement Z17 sets the standards for approving radio service suppliers like us.

Use the Request a Survey form on our home page, or email aquaticnav@gmail.com with the vessel name, flag, class society, location and the date your survey window opens. We serve Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Palm Beach and all of South Florida, with travel to the Bahamas, the Caribbean and U.S. ports nationwide.