# The Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998, Regulation 19: Radio personnel

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(1) Every ship shall carry a person or persons qualified for distress and safety radio communication purposes as specified in paragraph (3) or (4) (as appropriate) of this regulation. Such person or persons shall be holders of certificates specified in the Radio Regulations as appropriate.
(2) (a) In the case of passenger ships to which this sub-paragraph applies, at least one such person as mentioned in paragraph (1) above shall be assigned by the master to perform only radio communication duties during distress incidents.
(b) In the case of all other ships one such person as mentioned in paragraph (1) above shall be designated by the master to have primary responsibility for radio communications during distress incidents.
(3) On area A1 ships the person qualified as mentioned in paragraph (1) above shall hold at least a GMDSS restricted operator’s certificate issued in accordance with Section III of Article 47 of the Radio Regulations.
(4) On area A2, area A3 and area A4 ships the person qualified as mentioned in paragraph (1) above shall hold at least a GMDSS general operator’s certificate issued in accordance with Section III of Article 47 of the Radio Regulations, or equivalent.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2070/regulation/19 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-radio-installations-regulations-1998/regulation-19
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.