Government bureaucracy .
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2021 5:13 pm
Dear all, have you ever tried to register a marine radio and obtain a call sign ?
Well, many years ago, I did a marine radio operators course. Once successfully completed, you get issued with your certificate of proficiency.
After many house moves includung packing and unpacking so many times, I found that my certificate is lost. No problem I thought as these things are for life, so I should be able to get a copy. Rang AMC and after getting transferred three times got on to the right department. Lovely lady sent me a form to apply for the replacement. At a cost of $35. Pretty good so far. Then, after a few weeks, I check my credit card and yes they have my $35. Good I think, it must be on its way. Well, many weeks later it had not arrived so I rang them today around 1 pm. Got transferred 5 times this time and was eventually advised that it was sent a long time ago.
I check my letter box every day ( except today) so I went and checked it while I was talking to her and bugger me it was there in the letter box. All good I thought so thanked her and hung up. Now, I need to register the radio and get the call sign so I rang MAST. No, wrong place so I was told to ring MMSI, then AMSA and ACMA and then AMA again. No, no, no no, so back to MAST again who then decided to take down my details and advised me that they would send details to AMSA who would ring me back as soon as possible. I did find out in between all these calls, that you no longer need a call sign, you just use your boat name but the radio needs to be registered in the emergency data base and for that, your certificate of proficiency number is required which they now have ( so I was told ) Now, five hours later, I am no further advanced in this process than I was at 1.00 pm when I started. I wonder if I will ever be able to legally use my VHF radio.
Ah, the joys of government departments !
Well, many years ago, I did a marine radio operators course. Once successfully completed, you get issued with your certificate of proficiency.
After many house moves includung packing and unpacking so many times, I found that my certificate is lost. No problem I thought as these things are for life, so I should be able to get a copy. Rang AMC and after getting transferred three times got on to the right department. Lovely lady sent me a form to apply for the replacement. At a cost of $35. Pretty good so far. Then, after a few weeks, I check my credit card and yes they have my $35. Good I think, it must be on its way. Well, many weeks later it had not arrived so I rang them today around 1 pm. Got transferred 5 times this time and was eventually advised that it was sent a long time ago.
I check my letter box every day ( except today) so I went and checked it while I was talking to her and bugger me it was there in the letter box. All good I thought so thanked her and hung up. Now, I need to register the radio and get the call sign so I rang MAST. No, wrong place so I was told to ring MMSI, then AMSA and ACMA and then AMA again. No, no, no no, so back to MAST again who then decided to take down my details and advised me that they would send details to AMSA who would ring me back as soon as possible. I did find out in between all these calls, that you no longer need a call sign, you just use your boat name but the radio needs to be registered in the emergency data base and for that, your certificate of proficiency number is required which they now have ( so I was told ) Now, five hours later, I am no further advanced in this process than I was at 1.00 pm when I started. I wonder if I will ever be able to legally use my VHF radio.
Ah, the joys of government departments !