Before your vessel’s equipment can be inspected you must have an up to date Ship Station License issued by the FCC. The following link will bring you to the site Ship Radio Stations Licensing | Federal Communications Commission (fcc.gov)

Mandated by the US Coast Guard and the FCC, shipboard VHF radios on commercial vessels must be inspected once every five years for vessels that sail on domestic voyages. Vessels that sail on international voyages must be inspected once every 12 months.

After I conduct the inspection, I will issue either FCC form 824 or 827.

FCC 824: COMMUNICATIONS ACT SAFETY RADIOTELEPHONY CERTIFICATE: When a single VHF radio is provided for communications, the FCC 824 is the applicable certificate. Vessels which carry more than 6 passengers for hire, such as harbor cruises, sports fishing trips, dive trips. dolphin watching, and dinner cruises are all included in this group.

FCC 827: VESSEL BRIDGE-TO-BRIDGE RADIOTELEPHONY CERTIFICATE: When a second VHF radio is carried aboard for the purpose of compliance with the Vessel Bridge-To-Bridge Radiotelephone Act, this is the applicable certificate. An example would be an excursion vessel, towing vessel, pilot vessel, water taxi or any vessel more than 20 meters in length that regularly navigates a harbor area where VHF Channel 13 is regularly monitored.