Radio Callsign Information
VHF Radio Callsigns: they are issued upon application to persons who wish to use a Marine Radio. (It is recommended that applicants hold a Marine VHF Radio Operator certificate or Maritime Restricted Radio Operator certificate) .
New Zealand maritime Radio Callsigns usually take the form "ZMA 0000 to ZMZ 9999 " and are unique to each owner.
From the date of issue, a Radio Call Sign belongs to the person to whom it is issued. In practice, however, Coastguard Units use the Callsign as the "Unique Identifier" for a specific vessel, as Vessel Names are often duplicated many times amongst a community of boats. Owners of multiple boats often invest in multiple Radio Callsigns to ensure each vessel is uniquely identified by a dedicated callsign.
Callsigns can be issued by the Tauranga Coastguard , or by phoning Coastguard Boating Education Services (CBES)
tel: 0800 40 80 90 and pay by Credit Card. Check with your local Coastguard Unit .
Notes:
- Call Signs belong to the person to whom they were issued, for life; there is no need to pay another fee in the future.
- Persons or groups owning multiple boats usually own multiple Callsigns, and associate a Callsign to each vessel.
- A Callsign is invaluable should a vessel find itself in a Search and Rescue situation. Your Callsign should be given with every radio call, including Trip Reports.
- With the sale of a boat, the Call Sign may be transferred if agreed by both parties. If this is the case, please contact Coastguard Boating Education Services (CBES) 0800 40 80 90 and inform them of the transfer so they may update their database, Tauranga Coastguard members should contact Tauranga Coastguard..
- Inquiries about VHF Radio Call Signs may be made to Coastguard Boating Education Services (CBES) tel: 0800 40 80 90 or Tauranga Coastguard (tel 07 578 5579 )
