Radio Regulations, Licensing, Frequencies and Station Identification
Regulatory framework
The ITU Radio Regulations and SOLAS Chapter IV set the international framework; in Italy the administration issues the station licence and operator certificate. The Long Range Certificate (LRC) covers GMDSS operation beyond VHF-only use, while the limited/SRC certificate covers VHF. The ship station licence authorises the installation and frequencies; the operator certificate authorises the person.
Identification
Italian ship callsigns use the prefix I. The Maritime Identification Digits for Italy are 247. A ship MMSI is 247 followed by six digits, for example 247123456. A coast station MMSI uses 00 + MID, a group station uses 0 + MID, and an SAR aircraft uses 111 + MID. DSC, AIS and EPIRB identities must be programmed consistently with the licence.
Operating rules
Identify the station at the start and end of communications, use the authorised frequency and power, and do not transmit false or deceptive distress signals. Keep the licence and certificate available for inspection. Frequency use must follow the national plan and the channel/frequency assigned by the coast station.
Worked example: a vessel has callsign IABC and is assigned MMSI 247123456. A group call to vessels in the same fleet would use 024712345, and a coast station identity would use 00247xxxx. The reasoning: the MID 247 identifies Italy, while the leading digits distinguish ship, group and coast-station identities.
Traps
Do not use the callsign as the MMSI or invent an MMSI. Do not operate a VHF/DSC set without the required certificate and licence. Do not assume a programmed MMSI is correct; check it against the licence. A group MMSI is not a ship's individual identity.