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Recreational or commercial shipping; application for a number assignment (Ship Station License)

The Federal Network Agency will assign you numbers for recreational and commercial shipping in the form of a Ship Station License upon application. You must also notify certain changes.

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Procedure details

Ships use marine and inland waterway radio to communicate on the water. Before you put your radio system on board your ship into operation, a valid number assignment (Ship Station License) is required. You must apply for this from the Federal Network Agency.

In order to be able to use radio communication, the Federal Network Agency assigns you a call sign. A number assignment is also required if you want to operate a distress radio transmitter, for example an emergency radio beacon (EPIRB). The numbers are allocated to you in the form of a ship station license.

When making a new application, you must provide all the required information in the application and attach the necessary supporting documents to the application.

You must apply for a change to the ship station license if the following changes occur:

  • Name of the allottee
  • Address
  • Name of the vessel
  • Type of vessel
  • Type and number of radio installations
  • Omission of the billing identifier (AAIC)

You must report any changes, such as the dimensions of the vessel or the details of the 24-hour emergency contact. This data is passed on to the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) and is very important in the event of an emergency at sea.

If you no longer need the numbers, all holders listed in the certificate must declare their return. This is the case, for example, with a community of owners.

If a ship is sold, the numbers can be transferred to the buyer as the legal successor in order to avoid the discontinuation of the radio equipment with new numbers. To do this, you must apply to the Federal Network Agency for an adjustment of the previously valid number allocation.

To be able to submit a new application for number allocation, you must own a German ship.

German ships are those that

  • are registered in the German maritime or inland waterway register in accordance with the relevant regulations,
  • are provided with a valid official or officially recognized German registration number, if there is no obligation to register the ship,
  • are owned by German nationals if there is no obligation to register or to display a license plate for the vessel.

In addition, you may only use radio equipment that meets the requirements of the European Union (EU) for marine equipment. Your radio equipment must also comply with the legal requirements.

  • Required Documents

    New application:

    • if your ship is already registered in the maritime or inland waterway register: copy of the extract from the register
    • if your vessel has not yet been entered in a register of sea-going vessels: the registered distinguishing signal with proof

    Change application:

    • New application form, current allocation number and the call sign of the allocation

    Return of numbers:

    • Original certificate of allocation

    Transfer:

    • Documents for the sale / purchase of the vessel

    You can find out which other documents are required in your case in the relevant application form.

If you want to apply for number allocation online:

  • Call up the online application via the federal portal verwaltung.bund.de.
  • This will guide you step by step through the necessary information.
  • To access the form, you must provide proof of your identity (BundID account / ELSTER organization account).
  • Complete the form online.
  • Upload any other documents you need to attach to the application.
  • Submit the application.
  • Alternatively, you can complete the application, print it out, sign it and send it by e-mail or post.
  • You will receive the Ship Station License and the notification of fees with information on legal remedies by post after successful verification.
  • Number allocations are subject to a fee; a fee notice for all your allocations will be sent by post at a later date.

If you wish to apply for number allocation in writing by post or e-mail:

  • Go to the website of the Federal Network Agency and download the form.
  • Fill in everything, save the form or print it out and send it together with the documents by e-mail or post to the Federal Network Agency.
  • You will receive the Ship Station License and the fee notice with instructions on legal remedies by post after a successful examination.

Fees:

The allocation of numbers - and, under certain circumstances, their rejection - is subject to a fee.
The amount of the fees is calculated in accordance with the Special Telecommunications Fees Ordinance (BMDVTKBGebV) as amended.

Contributions:

In addition, the holder of a number assignment must pay annual contributions.
The amount of these contributions is determined in accordance with the Frequency Protection Contribution Ordinance (FSBeitrV), as amended.

The basis for determining the contribution rates is the actually incurred contributable expenses/costs in a calendar year for the respective user group. These can only be determined retrospectively. A contribution forecast is not possible. The costs are not constant, as they depend on various and variable factors, such as the level of disruption in the relevant contribution year. For these reasons, the contribution rates are subject to fluctuations.

The application documents must be submitted in full within 2 weeks, otherwise the application cannot be processed and the application data will be deleted.

1 to 4 weeks

  • Appeal
    • Further information on how to lodge an objection can be found in the notification or fee notice relating to your application.
  • Appeal to the administrative court

Status: 13.02.2025
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Bundesministerium für Verkehr
Source: Federal Portal
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