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E1A11

COMMISSION RULES · Frequency privileges; signal frequency range; automatic message forwarding; stations aboard ships or aircraft; power restriction on 630- and 2200-meter bands

E1A11§ 97.5E1A →

What licensing is required when operating an amateur station aboard a US-registered vessel in international waters?

  1. AAny amateur license with an FCC Marine or Aircraft endorsement
  2. BAny FCC-issued amateur license
  3. COnly General class or higher amateur licenses
  4. DAn unrestricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
Why Section 97.5 says an amateur station may be operated aboard a vessel or aircraft registered in the US provided the control operator holds an FCC-issued amateur license; there is no special maritime or aeronautical add-on for amateur service. In international waters the vessel's registry determines which country's rules apply, so a US-registered ship is treated as US territory for licensing purposes. The operator does still need the approval of the master of the vessel, and the station must be separate from the ship's required radio equipment. Privileges are whatever the license class already grants.
Watch out There is no FCC Marine or Aircraft endorsement for amateur licenses, and the Radiotelephone Operator Permit belongs to the commercial radio services, not the amateur service.
Ship's flag rules: US-registered hull plus any FCC ham ticket equals legal. No endorsements exist to add.
HamSandwich explanation, first draft. The question and answers are the NCVEC text.
47 CFR 97.5 Station license required.

(a) The station apparatus must be under the physical control of a person named in an amateur station license grant on the ULS consolidated license database or a person authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part, before the station may transmit on any amateur service frequency from any place that is:

(1) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and at a place where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC;

(2) Within 50 km of the Earth's surface and aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in the United States; or

(3) More than 50 km above the Earth's surface aboard any craft that is documented or registered in the United States.

(b) The types of station license grants are:

(1) An operator/primary station license grant. One, but only one, operator/primary station license grant may be held by any one person. The primary station license is granted together with the amateur operator license. Except for a representative of a foreign government, any person who qualifies by examination is eligible to apply for an operator/primary station license grant.

(2) A club station license grant. A club station license grant may be held only by the person who is the license trustee designated by an officer of the club. The trustee must be a person who holds an operator/primary station license grant. The club must be composed of at least four persons and must have a name, a document of organization, management, and a primary purpose devoted to amateur service activities consistent with this part.

(3) A military recreation station license grant. A military recreation station license grant may be held only by the person who is the license custodian designated by the official in charge of the United States military recreational premises where the station is situated. The person must not be a representative of a foreign government. The person need not hold an amateur operator license grant.

(c) The person named in the station license grant or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation by § 97.107 of this part may use, in accordance with the applicable rules of this part, the transmitting apparatus under the physical control of the person at places where the amateur service is regulated by the FCC.

(d) A CEPT radio-amateur license is issued to the person by the country of which the person is a citizen. The person must not:

(1) Be a resident alien or citizen of the United States, regardless of any other citizenship also held;

(2) Hold an FCC-issued amateur operator license nor reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee;

(3) Be a prior amateur service licensee whose FCC-issued license was revoked, suspended for less than the balance of the license term and the suspension is still in effect, suspended for the balance of the license term and relicensing has not taken place, or surrendered for cancellation following notice of revocation, suspension or monetary forfeiture proceedings; or

(4) Be the subject of a cease and desist order that relates to amateur service operation and which is still in effect.

(e) An IARP is issued to the person by the country of which the person is a citizen. The person must not:

(1) Be a resident alien or citizen of the United States, regardless of any other citizenship also held;

(2) Hold an FCC-issued amateur operator license nor reciprocal permit for alien amateur licensee;

(3) Be a prior amateur service licensee whose FCC-issued license was revoked, suspended for less than the balance of the license term and the suspension is still in effect, suspended for the balance of the license term and relicensing has not taken place, or surrendered for cancellation following notice of revocation, suspension or monetary forfeiture proceedings; or

(4) Be the subject of a cease and desist order that relates to amateur service operation and which is still in effect.

eCFR text as of 1 Sep 2026 · read on ecfr.gov
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  11. E1A11 What licensing is required when operating an amateur station aboard a US-registered vessel in international w…
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