Section I − Personnel of coast stations and coast earth stations
§ 1 Administrations shall ensure that the staff on duty in coast stations and in coast earth stations are adequately qualified to operate the stations efficiently.
Section II − Class and minimum number of personnel for ship stations and ship earth stations
§ 2 Administrations shall ensure that the personnel of ship stations and ship earth stations are adequately qualified to enable efficient operation of the station, and shall take steps to ensure the operational availability and maintenance of equipment for distress and safety communications in accordance with the relevant international agreements.
§ 3 An adequately qualified person shall be available to act as a dedicated communications operator in cases of distress.
§ 4 The personnel of ship stations and ship earth stations for which a radio installation is compulsory under international agreements and which use the frequencies and techniques prescribed in Chapter VII shall, with respect to the provisions of Article 47, include:
a) for stations on board ships which sail beyond the range of VHF coast stations, taking into account the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended: a holder of a first- or second-class radio electronic certificate or a general operator’s certificate;
b) for stations on board ships which sail solely within the range of VHF coast stations, taking into account the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended: a holder of a first- or second-class radio electronic certificate or a general operator’s certificate or a restricted operator’s certificate.
§ 5 The personnel of ship stations and ship earth stations for which a radio installation is not compulsory either under international agreements or national regulations and which use the frequencies and techniques prescribed in Chapter VII shall be adequately qualified and certificated in accordance with the administration’s requirements. Guidance concerning appropriate qualifications and certification is provided in Resolution 343 (Rev.WRC-12). That Resolution describes two appropriate certificates for use by personnel of ship stations and ship earth stations for which a radio installation is not compulsory. (WRC-23)