ATIS enabling your VHF Radio for Inland Waterways

If you are intending to cruise on the inland waterways of Europe, you will find that there are now new rules covering the use and carriage of VHF radio transceivers.

So what is ATIS?

ATIS, not to be confused with AIS, stands for Automatic Transmitter Identification System. This system is used on inland waterways in various countries in mainland Europe. At the end of every transmission the radio sends out a unique FFSK data signal, which contains the user or ship's unique ATIS call sign, this identifies you to marine coast stations and inland stations.  RAINWAT is the "Regional Arrangement Concerning the Radiotelephone Service on Inland Waterways" which, through the Basel Arrangement has made mandatory the use of the Automatic Transmitter Identification System (ATIS) for vessels making VHF transmissions whilst on the inland waterways of the signatory countries: Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; France; Germany; Hungary; Luxemburg; Moldova; The Netherlands; Poland; Romania; Slovakia; Switzerland; Serbia & Montenegro.

Do I need a new radio to comply or can my current equipment be upgraded?

The vessel's Ships Radio License will need to be amended and an ATIS number issued. Ofcom is the authority in the UK who makes the necessary modifications to the radio license.  You will not notice a difference in the way you operate your radio and there are no buttons to press to activate it; it is an automatic and passive function once programmed into your radio.

What do I need to do to comply?

Contact OFCOM at licensingcentre@ofcom.org.uk, emailing them your name, vessel name, vessel callsign and MMSI number. You must also include the following text in your email "I give consent for Ofcom to disclose license details to BIPT for the purposes of safety and ATIS administration, including making the details available to RAINWAT member states".  Ofcom will then check their records and issue you with a Notice of Variation (NOV) to your licence, this will be sent to you electronically. You can then contact your local dealer, with your newly issued ATIS number and have it programmed into your radio.

Please note: As part of this process your data will be given to the BIPT. You must print a copy of the Basel Agreement from http://www.rainwat.bipt.be/rainboat.html and keep it with the NOV and your ships radio licence.  You must familiarise yourself with the Basel Agreement.  The UK has NOT acceded to the Basel Agreement. Whilst overseas you will be under the jurisdiction of the authority in that country.

One other point to note is that once a VHF radio has been programmed for ATIS, it must be switched back to DSC in UK territorial waters!

Further information can be found on the Ofcom website at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/atis_faq