National law requirements
If you're a vessel owner or master with a radio on board, you must ensure a proper radio watch is maintained during operations. You must also document radio watchkeeping procedures in the safety management system (SMS).
Go to: Marine order 504—Certificates of operation and operation requirements
Radio watch checklist
To meet your obligations, you need to:
- appoint and train a radio watchkeeper
- install and maintain the radio equipment required for your vessel
- test your radio equipment every day during operation
- monitor the correct radio frequencies
- maintain a radio watch logbook
- include radio watch procedures in your vessel's SMS.
Appoint a radio watchkeeper
Every vessel needs a designated radio watchkeeper. This person monitors the distress and safety frequencies that match the vessel's radio system.
A continuous radio watch is essential for safety. Owners and masters need to ensure there are enough trained and qualified crew members to monitor radio frequencies at all times. Learn more about crewing and watchkeeping standards
The radio watchkeeper must hold the radio operator certificate of proficiency required to operate the radio equipment installed on board. Find out more about marine radio certificates.
Types of radio communication
A radio watch must cover 2 types of regulated radio communication:
- Distress messages - for reporting emergencies and requesting assistance.
- Maritime safety information - includes weather warnings, navigational hazards, and emergency updates.
Radio equipment requirements
Your vessel's radio equipment needs to comply with commercial vessel safety regulations for its operating area.
Either:
- within designated limited coast station (LCS) areas of coverage
- beyond designated LCS areas of coverage.
LCS are radio stations on land. They monitor VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) for distress and emergency communications. The average range for VHF communication between a vessel and an LCS, including repeater stations, is about 20 nautical miles (NSCV Part C7B). State and territory authorities determine LCS coverage areas.
Test radio equipment
The master is responsible for keeping radio equipment in working order. This includes checking frequencies and settings regularly. These checks should be part of pre-operating procedures and recorded in the SMS.
Radio equipment must be tested daily while the vessel is undertaking a voyage to meet NSCV C7B standards. Tests include:
- VHF radio call to LCS or another ship
- HF test call
- satellite installation test call or position report.
Radio frequencies by coverage area
The radio watchkeeper must ensure they stay tuned to the correct frequency for the vessel's designated operational area.
For a list of frequencies and channels for distress and safety communication, go to chapter 8 of the Mariners Handbook for Australian Waters (AHP20). Chapter 11 provides radio frequencies for different ports.
Within LCS areas
| Type of communication | Transmit distress messages | Provide and receive distress and safety information |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment and frequency/channel | VHF 16 | VHF 16 Local area channel |
| Radio operator licence | Short Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency (SROPC) Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) | |
Beyond LCS areas
| Type of communication | Transmit distress messages | Provide and receive distress and safety information: vessel to vessel | Provide and receive safety information: vessel to shore |
|---|---|---|---|
Equipment and frequency/channel (information is found in AHP20) | High Frequency Radio (HF) Satellite phone | VHF 16 | HF Satellite equipment Phone for voice Enhanced Group Call (EGC) receiver for safety information. |
| Radio operator licence | Long Range Operator Certificate of Proficiency (LROCP) LROCP with satellite endorsement GMDSS | ||
Maintain a radio logbook
Keep a logbook of the time and date of key radio communications, equipment issues and test results. This should include:
- summaries of distress and safety messages
- equipment failures or issues like breakdowns, excessive atmospheric noise or general interference
- daily radio testing results.
Make sure you keep the logbook updated and ready for inspection. It should be available for at least 5 years after the record is made. This may form part of the vessel logbook.
Find out more
You can also read more about radio watchkeeping in the Marine Radio Operator's Handbook