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Inland Waterway Cruising In Mainland Europe
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| Peter Cornish |
Posted on 25-05-2008 17:19
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Member
Posts: 5
Joined: 27.09.06
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Members should be aware that from February 2009, new legislation will be introduced that will affect them if they paln to cruise on the mainland European inland waterways.
The legislation relates to the Basel 2000 agreement that was signed by most EU member coutries with inland waterways. The exception was the UK, having said that UK citizens using these waterways will have to adhere to the regulations. The regulations aim is to harmonsie communications for safety purposes on the inland waterways in mainland Europe. They have been in effect for some while but have only applied to larger vessels. From Feb 2009 they will apply to all leisure vessels over 7 metres in length.
Basic facts:
The use of DSC VHF radios will be illegal in these areas. Radios that can be used will have to be fitted with ATIS (Automatic telecomms identification system) this system trasmits a short electronic code when you press the microphone switch. Embedded in the code is data about the vessel including an ident number registered to the vessel. The database for these numbers is, I believe held in Belgium.
The radios will have to adhere to strictor specifications. Maximum transmitted power will be limited in most cases to 1 watt. Radios with dual watch and scan facilities will be prohibited. There is however a requirement in the regs that your vessel will need to be able to monitor two channels which is being interpreted as meaning that you will need two radios.
No, you cannot use your handheld as the second radio as they will be prohibited and can only be used for "on board" communications (including talking to crew members during mooring operations)
I have heard that there is a possibility that two countries might allow the use of handhelds.
Before you can operate a radio in these areas it is also likely that you will have to obtain an extra endorsement to your current VHF SRC licence.
Firm information is difficult to get hold off. I have spoken to two bodies, the RYA and Ofcom who have been in discussions with the other authorities. To be honest, the impression that I get is that they are getting nowhere fast! Ofcom has suggested that the new ATIS code that you will require should be your MMSI number prefixed with a "9". They are however having difficulties getting an interface into the database system. One official actually went as far as to describe the other bodies as being "bl@@dy minded" about the whole exercise.
Some countries are being fairly relaxed about enforcing the regs with UK vessels but have stated that they may not be able to do so after Feb 2009.
I am sure that it will all get sorted out and will keep you informed if I hear anything else.
If you are thinking of buying a new radio then ensure that it is ATIS compatible. A lot of manufacturers now sell radios that can be used in both areas. Icom state that most of the radios that they have manufactured for the past five years are ATIS compatible or can easilly be converted. It would be worth checking with your own radio supplier.
I will keep this thread posted as and when i hear anything else. Please post any questions that you might have.
Happy cruising.
PS the new regs do not apply to UK inland waterways
Edited by Peter Cornish on 25-05-2008 17:20 |
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| John Redford |
Posted on 01-07-2008 13:52
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Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 09.09.06
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Peter, thanks for that. I only hope that the Dutch will take as much notice of this as they do of the Schenken Forms one should supposedly fill in!
I really don't know where I could fit yet another radio...... |
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| Anthony Barber |
Posted on 07-02-2009 09:32
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Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 04.09.06
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We're now in February 2009 and I wonder whether anything more is known about the use of ATIS on UK boats? I e-mailed Ofcom a couple of weeks ago to ask about an ATIS number but have had no reply. Contrary to a remark in an earlier posting on this topic, I undertand that a portable is now permited as the second VHF set. |
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| Anthony Barber |
Posted on 13-02-2009 12:57
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Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 04.09.06
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Further to my last positing on this, having received no responsoe from Ofcom, I e-mailed the RYA and promptly received the following response from their Stuart Carruthers
"There was talk about this during 2007.
I, together with a rep from Ofcom, went to a RAINWAT meeting in the Netherlands to discuss how UK visitors might gain compliance with the RAINWAT agreement without becoming signatories which would have been disproportionate action for the Inland Waters of UK. The initial reasons for this is that RAINWAT were seeking to withdraw exemptions such as those enjoyed by the UK boaters when visiting RAINWAT signatory countries.
The discussions centred on 2 issues: firstly training in RAINWAT ATIS techniques which would have been achieved by a bolt on module to the RYA VHF DSC course (much the same as a CEVNI endorsement for the ICC) and, second, the issue of an ATIS number which it was proposed would have been the ship's MMSI preceded by the numeral 9. For the system to work, the ATIS number needs to be recorded on the RAINWAT database so that the it can be linked to a registered keeper (the ATIS number is transmitted when the PTT switch is released on ATIS capable sets which explains why you often hear an annoying 'squeak' when in the vicinity of Dutch boats for example). This solution would have required Ofcom to transfer the MMSI data base to the RAINWAT database and put in place a procedural arrangement to keep it up to date.
However, during our discussions, it quickly became clear that our RAINWAT countries were also operating under exemptions, for example the French appear to be issuing ATIS licences on the basis of the CEPT SRC certificate! The upshot was and is that no agreement has been reached, an ATIS number is meaningless without the link to registered keeper and the exemptions for UK boaters travelling to RAINWAT countries continues.
I frequently ask Ofcom whether any progress has been made, but so far I have been advised that it has not. We do ask anyone who has difficulty when in a RAINWAT country to let us know - to date no one has reported back to us that they have." |
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| Peter Bell |
Posted on 13-02-2009 15:23
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Super Administrator
Posts: 97
Joined: 01.08.06
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Anthony, many thanks for pursuing this and passing on Stuart Carruthers's reply. Good to see the French behaving true to form -- signing up to all sorts of onerous initiatives and then studiously ignoring them  . |
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| Anthony Barber |
Posted on 12-03-2009 16:10
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Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 04.09.06
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Further to my earlier posting, it looks as though there may have been developments, see
http://www.rya.org.uk/knowledgebase/boatingabroad/pages/atis.aspx
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| Anthony Barber |
Posted on 28-03-2009 10:00
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Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 04.09.06
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A word of warning - entering my ATIS number into my (new this year) Raymarine Ray 240E appears to have completely disabled my DSC functions. I have been unable to turn the ATIS squawk off and have had to ask the dealer to disable the ATIS and restore my set to its original condition. Raymarine are apparently still in discussion with the ITU, ETSI and Ofcom!. |
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| John Redford |
Posted on 13-05-2009 10:01
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Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 09.09.06
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Two more bits of info came my way yesterday:
You may use a hand-held ATIS VHF in Holland (Switzerland also I understand). The Cobra HH325 is available at £79.95 from Mailspeed and is self-programmable with your ATIS number. (And also from Norfolk Marine at £80.96). You can then use this as your operating radio and keep listening watch on the other channel on your main VHF.
Ofcom will send you a Notification of Variation if you contact them. You also have to give them permission to release your details to BIPT and RAINWAT.
As Holland is our usual inland destination that will keep us going!
John and Mary-Jane
Edited by John Redford on 14-05-2009 08:44 |
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| John Redford |
Posted on 15-05-2009 09:59
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Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 09.09.06
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Anthony wrote in February:
(the ATIS number is transmitted when the PTT switch is released on ATIS capable sets which explains why you often hear an annoying 'squeak' when in the vicinity of Dutch boats for example).
As an aside it is interesting to note the following on the Notice of Variation:
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the ATIS equipment or facility shall not be used within 14 nautical miles
from the low water line along the Coast of the United Kingdom, Isle of
Man and Channel Islands.
Perhaps someone should tell our Dutch visitors? |
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| John Redford |
Posted on 08-07-2009 08:48
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Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 09.09.06
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We spent a month in Holland over late May/June and never once heard the "ATIS bleep". We spoke to many, many Dutch sailors, nearly all had either never heard of ATIS or didn't bother about it!
We also learnt a new Dutch word: "gedoog", I think it's spelt. It means that it is the law but no-one takes any notice of it! (cf smoking in pubs/weed etc, etc!)
Cheers
John and Mary-Jane |
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