Licencing etc.

[jgraham768]

Hi All,

Been fishing with a 16ft dory for about a year, no VHF, no GPS, NADA not even insurance. I never had it moored I always just launched it and landed any day i used it.
Anyways I'm selling that and looking to up myself to about a 20footer but I'm gonna get something with VHF, GPS, FishFinder (all the bells and whistles) or at least put them in myself, but what i'm asking is do i need any certs or licencing because I'm gonna moor this vessel in the local marina and i wanna have everything right before i go buying.
So do i require a vhf cert or a vessel licence to be allowed bring friends and what not in and out of the marina?

Thanks for any help lads
John

[JimC]

The is no licence required to drive a boat.
There is a licence required to operate a VHF, both an operators licence and a Ships licence (2 licences)
I have never heard of somebody being taken to task for not having a licence (either operator or ships).
There is no obligation to have insurance. Some angling clubs insist on it and many like the comfort of public liability insurance - if your carpenter friend loses a hand while on your boat he might just take your house!
All this is for the privateer.

If you intend to take paying passengers it is a different kettle of fish.

[jgraham768]

The is no licence required to drive a boat.
There is a licence required to operate a VHF, both an operators licence and a Ships licence (2 licences)
I have never heard of somebody being taken to task for not having a licence (either operator or ships).
There is no obligation to have insurance. Some angling clubs insist on it and many like the comfort of public liability insurance - if your carpenter friend loses a hand while on your boat he might just take your house!
All this is for the privateer.

If you intend to take paying passengers it is a different kettle of fish.

No i definitely wont be taking paying passengers, just friends and family and stuff like that! So i need a operators licence which is basically like a competency course or something ya? and i licence for the boat to have VHF on it is it? And what about registration and all that sort of thing? From what i understand you get a calling sign for your boat after doing a VHF course but what is that?

[JimC]

Course > operators licence > ships licence >call sign > mmsi number > DSC vhf all legal and above board.

[jgraham768]

Ok that looks like a bit of work alright, and these are all seperate courses or is there any all-in-one course out there?

[shaft666]

There's a one off course that covers all that for you and by chance there's one coming up close to you on December 6th - 7th! I did it last year and found it very enjoyable and informative, (it was held in The Bianconi in Killorglin) more info here; http://www.vhf.ie/Home/tabid/1866/Modul ... fault.aspx

[shaft666]

Just note that the cost of the course (€210) includes your operators licence but you will then have to pay another €100 to the dept of transport to get a ships licence!

[jgraham768]

Ya i looked at that VHF website, pity it doesn't say where-about it's actually on. I know they've done the courses here in Dingle a few times over the years but never got around to it! Ya the €100 is for a lifetime licence as well isn't it, and have to send off the forms if i was buying a boat that already has a VHF ship licence? What's the story if I buy a boat that already has the VHF licence and everything aboard but i don't have my operator cert will i have to remove the radio? (Don't want to wait til the new year for a new boat )

[JimC]

As said....no body has ever been prosecuted for using a VHF without a licence (to the best of my knowledge )

[jgraham768]

Ah that's all well and good but I'd prefer to have all the certs and licencing if not to save prosecution but for my own knowledge and safe practise!
Also do I have to have register a change of name or anything like that for the ship licence?

[JimC]

Ah that's all well and good but I'd prefer to have all the certs and licencing if not to save prosecution but for my own knowledge and safe practise!
Also do I have to have register a change of name or anything like that for the ship licence?

That is all grand. My point is that removing a radio because you do not have a licence would be pointless, foolhardy even.

There are forms there for change of details etc. for an existing ships licence.

[jgraham768]

ok cool thanks for the help Jim!

[dezzer]

i would recommend you do the vhf/dsc course,very helpful and usefull,also the dsc will send signal to coastguard to your position if you ever need to use it,as for insurance its a must,some marinas will not let you moor without it,also for peace of mind,launching retrieveing towing etc,eddie...

[daveire]

id go for something with an inboard diesel engine for economy. as for vhf i wouldnt bother myself most people i know never bothered and they fish small boats commercially

[jgraham768]

id go for something with an inboard diesel engine for economy. as for vhf i wouldnt bother myself most people i know never bothered and they fish small boats commercially

Ya i was looking at a few inboard boats but the only ones i like with a bit of poke are €10g+ and I certainly dont have that to spend!

[fishfeatures]

id go for something with an inboard diesel engine for economy. as for vhf i wouldnt bother myself most people i know never bothered and they fish small boats commercially

Daft advice! anyone with any common sense should always carry a VHF when out on the water, esp people who make a living from fishing. There are too many stories of people getting into trouble with dire consequences and it's lack of proper safety equip that is the root cause, whether that's lifejackets or VHF. A mobile isn't always guaranteed to work out at sea and things can turn nasty very quickly esp from here on in at this time of year.

Get a VHF ( even if you don't do the licence , get one) wear your lifejacket and practice safe boating......

Dunno your budget but I'd aim for something with a cabin and an aux motor, boats such as shetlands may suit you....

[daveire]

its not daft advise. all the boats have vhf radios most have 2 a fixed and a handheld. the fixed is normally on ch 88 for weather and the handheld is for just having a chat with the other boats on a side channel.imo no point paying money for the coarse, just have a handheld aboard just in case.

[fishfeatures]

as for vhf i wouldnt bother myself most people i know never bothered and they fish small boats commercially

you must have meant meant to say 'VHF Licence' in the statement above so.... but you can see where my rant came from...

[Etihad]

Just note that the cost of the course (€210) includes your operators licence but you will then have to pay another €100 to the dept of transport to get a ships licence!

I can see justification for the cost of the course, but why is it 100 euro for a ships licence? In the UK you simply apply online and get it free of charge along with your MMSI number and callsign. If the Gov was serious about safety at sea should they not try to encourage as many people as possible to get properly licensed instead of hitting them with another stealth-tax for what in effect is just a piece of paper

[jgraham768]

Just note that the cost of the course (€210) includes your operators licence but you will then have to pay another €100 to the dept of transport to get a ships licence!

I can see justification for the cost of the course, but why is it 100 euro for a ships licence? In the UK you simply apply online and get it free of charge along with your MMSI number and callsign. If the Gov was serious about safety at sea should they not try to encourage as many people as possible to get properly licensed instead of hitting them with another stealth-tax for what in effect is just a piece of paper

Welcome to Ireland my friend the land of the forsaken and the home of the shady!