The service provided: safety at sea
Radio equipment on seagoing vessels, including the smallest boats, has become a commonplace safety element in just a few years.
On behalf of the Ministry for Transport and the Secretary of State for the Sea, the Agency issues maritime radio identifiers (call signs, MMSI) for the use of VHF radios, distress beacons, etc. To improve the responsiveness of emergency services in the event of an accident, it provides maritime surveillance centres with regularly updated information from its "Maritime Radio" database.
It also manages the radio operator certificate known as the RROP ("restricted radiotelephone operator permit"). Without this certificate, sailing in international and foreign waters is not possible. However, the RROP is optional in French waters, subject to having a pleasure boat licence.
Mission detail
The vast majority of communications at sea are made using equipment specific to a maritime environment. This is particularly true of VHF, a radio transmitter/receiver used by pleasure boats and professionals. Its average range is 30 nautical miles (almost 50 km). It is far more important than the use of mobile phones at sea, which is still very limited and only works when the vessel is close to the coast. Furthermore, a distress call sent on VHF channel 16 can be picked up not only by the emergency services that monitor the channel 24 hours a day, but also by all VHF-equipped vessels cruising nearby.
The ANFR contributes to the actions taken to assist people who encounter difficulties at sea. In particular, it issues maritime radio identifiers (MMSI and call sign) for VHF radios and distress beacons on behalf of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Solidarity.
The licence, which is renewed annually by the ANFR, includes much of the information declared by pleasure boaters and professionals sailing in the sea and river sectors. It is mandatory to be able to use the authorised communication equipment on board.
VHF transmitters with DSC (Digital Selective Calling) provide automatic transmission and reception of distress, emergency and safety communications by setting up direct contact with other vessels and coastal stations in charge of safety at sea.
The MMSI(Maritime Mobile Service Identity), a unique 9-digit identification code assigned by the ANFR, is programmed into each VHF terminal or any other equipment requiring it such as a Cospas-Sarsat beacons (authorised EPIRBs or PLBs). It allows the precise identification of each vessel (type, length, registration) and the associated owner, with access to full details and contacts to call in the event of distress. With a DSC VHF, the vessel's geographical position (GPS coordinates) must be able to be transmitted automatically during a DSC distress call.
The ANFR makes its maritime radio database available to maritime surveillance centres, thereby helping search and rescue services provide assistance to shipwreck victims. The data collected by the Agency concerns around 190,000 active or inactive ships or boats. The regularly collected and updated data is especially useful during the so-called "uncertainty" phase, when the rescue organisation checks that the call is not a false alarm and concerns a real distress situation.
The ANFR also manages the RROP (restricted radiotelephone operator permit), which certifies the capacity of ships' radio operators. This certificate, is issued on passing an examination given by the Agency covering the regulations, the use of radio equipment and the procedures to be followed when using VHF. The Agency organises examination sessions throughout mainland France and the French overseas territories.
Without an RROP or SRC (Short Range Certificate), it is not possible to use a VHF in international waters. However, the RROP is optional in French waters for holders of a pleasure boat licence.
Figures for 2022
113,174 licences valid for 2023 (issued in December 2022)
6,131 RROP exam passes in 2022