Veiliger varenWith some exceptions, a VHF radio is not required on a recreational vessel. However, it is recommended when boating on major inland waterways or other large bodies of water, as this can only enhance your safety. The organisations participating in the project ‘Safe Boating’ strongly recommend the use of a VHF radio. If you have a VHF radio on board, you are required to monitor it. Set your VHF radio to channel 10 on inland waterways and to channel 16 at sea. It is essential that everyone follow the same protocol and tune in to the same channel, so that vessel operators can contact one another and be heard.

IndispensableA VHF radio is a short-distance transmitter-receiver that operates in the Very High Frequency range. It is indispensable in areas shared with commercial shipping. In fact, two VHF radios are sometimes required on large vessels. A VHF radio is not required on a small vessel, but it is highly recommended.

No good alternativeA mobile telephone is not a good alternative to a VHF radio, as it only allows you to contact one person or organization at a time. In addition, in many places on the water, getting a mobile telephone signal is impossible, and mobile telephone battery capacity is limited. In France, you may use a walkie-talkie, but this is not a proper alternative to a VHF radio either, as a walkie-talkie has a much more limited range than a VHF radio and its battery capacity is limited. A call on a VHF radio (emergency or otherwise) can be heard by all vessels in the area. This greatly increases your chances of being heard.

A VHF radio is a transmitter-receiver for maritime communication. The VHF radio allows you to contact other vessels and shore stations such as locks, traffic control and the coast guard, at sea as well as on inland waterways. Proper use of your VHF radio enhances safety on the water.

Communication on the water in France

Why a VHF radio?Four good reasons for using a VHF radio:• By monitoring your VHF radio, you know what is

going on in the area in which you are boating, which vessels are present and which manoeuvres they are undertaking. Based on this information, you can adjust your course in order to continue your journey safely.

• The VHF radio is essential for contacting traffic control personnel and bridge and lock operators.

• An emergency call broadcast by VHF radio can be heard by all vessels in the area.

• You can easily receive bulletins relevant to your safety, such as weather forecasts, storm advisories and other information essential to boating.

Traffic controlIn zones featuring curves or intersections with poor visibility, as well as on very busy waterways, waterway management agencies direct traffic from individual traffic control stations or a central command station. A traffic controller provides information and advice and if necessary issues instructions to vessel operators within the zone under the station’s supervision, in order to ensure a safe and smooth flow of traffic. If a traffic control station or the central command station contacts you, you are required to reply and provide the information requested. This also applies to a call on a ship-to-ship radio channel.

Specific zones?Each traffic control station is responsible for a section of the waterway. Each of these specific zones is assigned a specific channel for VHF radio communication, which is indicated on navigation charts and on VHF signs along the shore. As soon as you enter a specific zone, you are required to set your VHF radio to the channel indicated. When you leave this specific zone, you are required to reset your VHF radio to channel 10, unless you are

entering another specific zone. It is not necessary to report by radio when you enter a specific zone, but if you are going to undertake a special manoeuvre, you must report this using the VHF radio channel indicated.

Bridges and locksIf you have a VHF radio on board, you are required to monitor it on the channel indicated when approaching a bridge or lock. Once past this bridge or lock, reset your VHF radio to channel 10 or the next specific zone channel indicated on signage.

Rules for using VHF radio Police regulations include rules for maritime radio communication. The principal rules are as follows:• The RAINWAT Guide to Radiotelephone Service on

Inland Waterways, your registration certificate or licence and your operator’s certificate are absolutely required on board.

• If your vessel has a VHF radio, you are required to monitor it on channel 10 (on inland waterways), on channel 16 (at sea) or on the channel indicated for a specific zone.

• If you receive a call on a specific zone channel or on a ship-to-ship channel, you are required to reply and communicate all requested information relevant to safety.

• Communication should be conducted in the main language of the country in which the VHF radio-equipped vessel is currently located. In the event of communication problems, use the language specified in the police regulations on boating. In countries where no such regulations exist, you may use German, French or any other suitable language.

Emergency situationsIf your vessel and its passengers are in serious, imminent danger and you need immediate assistance, you may use the emergency signal (‘Mayday’). The VHF radio can be very useful in an emergency.

Required registration and operator’s certificateIn France, you are required to register your radio communication equipment, and to do this you need an operator’s certificate. You can register at www.anfr.fr, the website of the French national frequencies agency. Failure to register your vessel’s VHF radio is a violation of law. Additional equipment, such as AIS (Automatic Identification System), EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons), or shortwave/medium-wave SATCOM, must also be registered. All this equipment must carry the identification (ATIS code and/or MMSI number) issued to the registration holder. Some equipment requires a Marcom A or B certificate. For the most commonly used VHF radios, you need at least a Marcom B certificate. Further information about the required certificates is available on the ANFR website.

ATISVHF radios and walkie-talkies in use on inland waterways (including large bodies of water) are required to transmit their assigned ATIS code (radio call sign). ATIS stands for Automatic Transmitter Identification System. This allows traffic control stations, rescue services, and bridge and lock personnel to immediately identify a caller. The ATIS code also quickly identifies a vessel in the event of an engine failure or emergency. If you purchase a new VHF radio or walkie-talkie, remember to have it programmed with your ATIS code, which is listed on your registration certificate. If you use a VHF radio or walkie-talkie previously owned by someone else, you must have it programmed with your own ATIS code. It is sometimes possible, by mutual agreement, to adopt the ATIS code of the previous owner. Any change in your registration information must be reported to the ANFR..

MMSI numberAn MMSI (Maritime Mobile Service Identity) number is a unique 9-digit number used to identify a vessel. The MMSI number must be programmed into the emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRB), DSC (Digital Selective Calling) radio communication equipment and the AIS (Automatic Identification System). This simple procedure makes tracking and rescue operations fast and efficient. The MMSI number is comparable to the ATIS code. In principle, the ATIS code was intended for inland waterways and the MMSI number for sea-going vessels. The introduction of AIS, however, means MMSI numbers will also be used for inland waterways and for recreational vessels. You can obtain an MMSI number from the ANFR.

AIS The Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a globally operating warning and tracking system based on transponders. A transponder must be programmed with the name of the vessel, its call sign and its assigned MMSI number. These identifiers are broadcast automatically along with variable data (vessel type, position, course and speed) and received by stations on shore and other vessels in the area. The broadcast data, including the vessel’s name, can be displayed on an electronic chart. If you wish to use the AIS system you must request an MMSI number from the ANFR.

Correct programmingThe identification codes issued to you (ATIS and MMSI) must be programmed into the relevant equipment. If you use the AIS system, this also includes the vessel’s name and call sign. The correct programming of these codes and data can be of major and even life-saving importance in an emergency, as they allow the coast guard and traffic control stations to immediately identify the vessel calling them.Correct programming increases your safety!

Technical issuesInspections often uncover technical issues. Examples include:• The identification codes (ATIS, MMSI, AIS data)

have not been correctly programmed or not programmed at all.

• The VHF radio has no automatic power reduction. In France, many channels may only be used at low power, no more than 1 watt rather than the usual 25 watts. Using a low power setting is essential to prevent disruption in a very busy communications network over flat terrain.

• Incorrect configuration of the antenna, which significantly reduces broadcast and reception range. This can be caused by moisture in the antenna cable, defective plugs or a damaged antenna. The antenna, antenna cables and connections should be checked annually.

Listen, then broadcastAlways use your VHF radio correctly and according to prescribed procedures. Make notes in advance, practise using your VHF radio and familiarize yourself with radio language. Your VHF radio is for your safety on the water, which will be greatly enhanced by correct use. A particularly important aspect of this correct use is the mode of communication devised specifically for shipping. The procedures of this mode of communication have been developed to make radio messages uniform and standardized, in order to prevent misunderstandings. The RAINWAT Guide to Radiotelephone Service on Inland Waterways contains more detailed information on the use of a VHF radio and general rules and a list of all shore stations, as well as examples demonstrating correct ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication.Regular practice using the VHF radio, both before and during the sailing season, is highly recommended. This will instil fast reflexes and enable you to use your VHF radio effectively in the event of an emergency.

Radio etiquetteTo facilitate communication on the water and prevent any disruption, certain rules must be followed for radio communication:• Use VHF channels only for their intended purpose.• Follow prescribed procedures.• Discuss only pertinent and important information

on VHF channels reserved for ship-to-ship communication, for nautical information, for communication between the vessel and port authorities, and for onboard communication.

• For private conversations, use only channels 72 and 77.

• Do not hold the PTT (Push To Talk) button pressed longer than necessary.

Enforcement agencies The monitoring of radio use is entrusted to the following agencies:

VNF (Voies Navigables de France)The VNF is responsible for the management of traffic and safety on France’s major waterways, for commercial as well as recreational vessels. Correct use of VHF radio plays an essential role in this. www.vnf.fr

ANFRThe ANFR is the French national frequencies agency, responsible for regulating broadcast communications. Maritime radio communication is part of this. The ANFR’s mission is to guarantee clear, safe and professional maritime communication, by providing information to the public and to professionals, testing radio links and carrying out inspections. www.anfr.fr

PoliceSafety, inspections and law enforcement on French waterways fall under the jurisdiction of the water police services. One of the missions of these services is to improve safety on the water (and to enforce safety rules to this end). The rules of proper VHF radio use are part of this.

This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and made possible by the INTERREG IVB programme (Numericanal). These brochures were created together by Numericanal partners building on the work carried out in the Netherlands Safe Boating programmme ‘Varen doe je samen!’ The purpose is to enhance safety on the water, especially on waterways used by both commercial vessels and pleasure craft. Questions? Go to www.numericanal.eu and www.safeboating.eu