Irish Lass's primary VHF radio is equipped with two very important safety features.
The first is Digital Selective Calling (DSC), which provides (among other things) a one-button emergency broadcast that identifies the boat and its location to the Coast Guard and other emergency responders. It allows you to alert them to a serious situation while you are occupied with other matters. Like plugging the hole in the boat. Or fighting a fire. Or performing CPR.
The second is an Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder that broadcasts our boat info, location, course, and speed to other AIS-equipped vessels. And allows us to see the same info on them. For Loopers, AIS is particularly valuable in narrow waterways with blind corners. It lets you "see" that oncoming towboat around the bend pushing 14 barges of God-knows-what, rather than when you turn the corner and find yourself in its immediate path. Similarly, when you are anchored in some snug cove, the towboat captain can "see" you before he parks his 14 barges on top of you for the night.
In order to make either of these features work, we have to obtain a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number for Irish Lass. The number registers the specifics about us and the boat with the Coast Guard, etc. We will program it into our VHF before we set sail.
Now, I told you all that in order to tell this:
Mere mortals can get an MMSI number quickly and easily thru BoatUS, a large national boaters association, for $25. But WE have to apply for ours thru Federal Communications Commission.
"Why?" you may ask? Well, because WE intend to visit Canada on our Loop. And because of this, we have to obtain a federal Ship Station Radio License, along with our MMSI number At a cost of $220.
So, WE have to buy this federal license that no US authority will ask us to display or produce while in US waters. But if WE visit a Canadian port (technically any foreign port), WE must possess a US-issued license over which no one in Canada has jurisdiction.
So, being law-abiding citizens, WE are licensed. Confused, but licensed. 😕
(And how do you spell Canada? It's easy: "C, eh? N, eh? D, eh?" 😂)
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