§ 13.203   Examination elements.

   (a) A written examination (written Element) must prove that the
   examinee possesses the operational and technical qualifications to
   perform the duties required by a person holding that class of
   commercial radio operator license. For each Element, the Commission
   shall establish through public notices or other appropriate means the
   number of questions to be included in the question pool, the number of
   questions to be included in the examination, and the number of
   questions that must be answered correctly to pass the examination. Each
   written examination must consist of questions relating to the pertinent
   subject matter, as follows:

   (1) Element 1: Basic radio law and operating practice with which every
   maritime radio operator should be familiar. Questions concerning
   provisions of laws, treaties, regulations, and operating procedures and
   practices generally followed or required in communicating by means of
   radiotelephone stations.

   (2) Element 3: General radiotelephone. Questions concerning electronic
   fundamentals and techniques required to adjust, repair, and maintain
   radio transmitters and receivers at stations licensed by the FCC in the
   aviation and maritime radio services.

   (3) Element 6: Advanced radiotelegraph. Questions concerning technical,
   legal and other matters applicable to the operation of all classes of
   radiotelegraph stations, including operating procedures and practices
   in the maritime mobile services of public correspondence, and
   associated matters such as radio navigational aids, message traffic
   routing and accounting, etc.

   (4) Element 7: GMDSS radio operating practices. Questions concerning
   GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices sufficient to show
   detailed practical knowledge of the operation of all GMDSS sub-systems
   and equipment; ability to send and receive correctly by radiotelephone
   and narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy; detailed knowledge of the
   regulations applying to radio communications, knowledge of the
   documents relating to charges for radio communications and knowledge of
   those provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life
   at Sea which relate to radio; sufficient knowledge of English to be
   able to express oneself satisfactorily both orally and in writing;
   knowledge of and ability to perform each function listed in § 80.1081
   of this chapter; and knowledge covering the requirements set forth in
   IMO Assembly Resolution on Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex
   3.

   (5) Element 7R: Restricted GMDSS radio operating practices. Questions
   concerning those GMDSS radio operating procedures and practices that
   are applicable to ship stations on vessels that sail exclusively in sea
   area A1, as defined in § 80.1069 of this chapter, sufficient to show
   detailed practical knowledge of the operation of pertinent GMDSS
   sub-systems and equipment; ability to send and receive correctly by
   radio telephone and narrow-band direct-printing telegraphy; detailed
   knowledge of the regulations governing radio communications within sea
   area A1, knowledge of the pertinent documents relating to charges for
   radio communications and knowledge of the pertinent provisions of the
   International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea; sufficient
   knowledge of English to be able to express oneself satisfactorily both
   orally and in writing; knowledge of and ability to perform each
   pertinent function listed in § 80.1081 of this chapter; and knowledge
   covering the pertinent requirements set forth in IMO Assembly
   Resolution on Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 3.

   (6) Element 8: Ship radar techniques. Questions concerning specialized
   theory and practice applicable to the proper installation, servicing
   and maintenance of ship radar equipment in general use for marine
   navigational purposes.

   (7) Element 9: GMDSS radio maintenance practices and procedures.
   Questions concerning the requirements set forth in IMO Assembly on
   Training for Radio Personnel (GMDSS), Annex 5 and IMO Assembly on Radio
   Maintenance Guidelines for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
   System related to Sea Areas A3 and A4.

   (b) A telegraphy examination (telegraphy Elements) must prove that the
   examinee has the ability to send correctly by hand and to receive
   correctly by ear texts in the international Morse code at not less than
   the prescribed speed, using all the letters of the alphabet, numerals
   0-9, period, comma, question mark, slant mark, and prosigns AR, BT, and
   SK.

   (1) Telegraphy Element 1: 16 code groups per minute.

   (2) Telegraphy Element 2: 20 words per minute.

   [ 58 FR 9124 , Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at  69 FR 64671 , Nov. 8, 2004;  73 FR 4479 , Jan. 25, 2008;  78 FR 23154 , Apr. 18, 2013]

   return arrow Back to Top