VHF radio courses and resources
On this page:
Do a Coastguard Boating Education VHF radio course
Having a Maritime VHF Radio Operator Certificate is a legal requirement for using a VHF radio (unless you’re making a distress call or calling about or responding to an emergency). Whether you use it for an emergency or not, you need to know how to use your VHF radio properly.
Coastguard Boating Education offers a Maritime VHF Radio Operator Certificate course, which you can do either face to face or online.
It takes only a few hours and costs from $120.
To find out more, go to www.boatingeducation.org.nz or contact Coastguard Boating Education at info@boatingeducation.org.nz or on 0800 40 80 90.
Get a call sign for your boat
Once you’ve completed a VHF radio course you can get a call sign, which is unique to your boat and is a legal requirement for making a call on your VHF radio.
There might be several boats in New Zealand with the same name as yours, so the call sign distinguishes your boat. The call sign is registered on the National Search and Rescue Database, which will include other information about your boat and emergency contact details that will make it easier to help you. If you sell your boat you can keep your call sign or let it go with the boat’s new owner.
The one-off CALLSIGN registration cost is $60 and an additional $10 for a MMSI number.
To find out more, go to www.boatingeducation.org.nz or contact Coastguard Boating Education at info@boatingeducation.org.nz or on 0800 40 80 90.
Helpful links and resources
See below for more information on using your VHF radio and download our radio handbook.
Download our Radio handbook
In this handbook:
learn the correct procedures for communicating
find information about coverage and services
find useful contacts and a glossary
two stickers for quick reference