The RYA is urging boat owners with VHF or AIS radio equipment to pay attention to a new Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reminder notice. The notice draws attention to the correct operation of VHF and AIS equipment; containing simple yet vital advice:

i) there must be a VHF licence holder onboard the vessel
ii) the appropriate channel should be used at all times
iii) sending and receiving stations must be identified in each transmission
iv) avoid non-essential transmissions
v) do not agree to deviate from the collision regulations in a potential collision situation. You may not be communicating with the vessel that you think you are, language barriers may cause misunderstandings, and a collision could be created rather than avoided.

To see the notice in its entirety, click on this link or see Mariners Guidance Notice (MGN) 324 on www.mcga.gov.uk