Telecommunication Authority of Singapore Act
(Chapter 323, Section 131(1))
Radio-communication (Certificates of Competency for Ship Station Operators)
Regulations1

1  Replaces Rg 2, 1990 Ed. (S 80/73).
Rg 2
G.N. No. S 206/1995

REVISED EDITION 1996
(15th May 1996)
[19th May 1995]
Citation
1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Radio-communication (Certificates of Competency for Ship Station Operators) Regulations.
Compoundable offences
2.  The following offences may be compounded by the Authority in accordance with section 64(1) of the Act:
(a)sections 29(1) and (3), 31(1), 32, 33(1), (3) and (4), 34(2), 35(1) and (3), 39, 40(1), 45, 48, 49(1), (2) and (3) and 52 of the Act;
(b)regulations 24, 31, 32, 33, 35(2), 36, 54, 56(2), 57, 63(1), (2) and (3), 64, 67, 68, 69 and 70 (read with regulation 78) of the Telecommunications (Radio-communication) Regulations 2001 (G. N. No. S 114/2001);
(c)regulations 4(1) and (4), 6(2), 12(2), 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20(3) and (4) (read with regulation 32) of the Telecommunication (Dealers) Regulations (Rg 7);
(d)any provision (read with regulation 16) of the Telecommunication (Internal Wiring) Regulations (Rg 9); and
(e)regulations 8(b), (c), (d) and (e) and 12 (read with regulation 14) of the Telecommunications (Cable Detection Workers) Regulations 2000 (G.N. No. S 196/2000).
Issue of Certificate of Competency
3.—(1)  The Authority may issue a Certificate of Competency in radio-communications, on being satisfied after examinations that the candidate is qualified to hold such a Certificate under these Regulations.
(2)  The Certificate of Competency shall be in the form set out in the First Schedule and graded as follows:
(a)General Operator’s Certificate of Competency; and
(b)Restricted Operator’s Certificate of Competency.
Declaration to preserve secrecy
4.  A holder of a Certificate of Competency shall make a declaration to preserve secrecy of correspondence in such form as the Authority may require.
Examinations
5.—(1)  The Authority may, at any time, but not less than twice a year, hold examinations for each grade of Certificate of Competency as it considers necessary.
(2)  A candidate for an examination for a Certificate of Competency shall have attained the age of 18 years.
(3)  The syllabi and other details of examinations for each grade of Certificate of Competency may be obtained on a written application being made to the Chief Executive.
(4)  An applicant for an examination for a Certificate of Competency shall furnish to the Authority 2 passport size photographs of himself and such personal particulars as the Authority may require.
Fees
6.  The fees for —
(a)an examination for a Certificate of Competency;
(b)the issue of a Certificate of Competency; and
(c)the issue of a duplicate of a Certificate of Competency,
are set out in the Second Schedule.
General Operator’s Certificate
7.  In order to qualify for a General Operator’s Certificate of Competency, a candidate shall give proof to the Authority by examination that he has the following knowledge and qualifications:
(a)detailed practical knowledge of the operation of all the sub-systems and equipment of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System;
(b)an ability to send and receive correctly by radio-telephone and by direct-printing telegraphy;
(c)detailed knowledge of the Radio Regulations relating to radio-communications, knowledge of the documents relating to charges for radio-communications and of those provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which relate to radio-communications; and
(d)sufficient knowledge of the English language to be able to express himself satisfactorily both orally and in writing.
Authority of General Operator’s Certificate holder to operate radio-communication services
8.  The holder of a General Operator’s Certificate of Competency is authorised by the Authority to operate the radio-communication services of a licensed ship station equipped with radio-communication apparatus in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Radio Regulations for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
Restricted Operator’s Certificate
9.  In order to qualify for a Restricted Operator’s Certificate of Competency, a candidate shall give proof to the Authority by examination that he has the following knowledge and qualifications:
(a)practical knowledge of the operation of all the sub-systems and equipment of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System which is required while the ship is sailing within the range of Very High Frequency coast stations;
(b)an ability to send and receive correctly by radio-telephone;
(c)knowledge of the Radio Regulations relating to radiotelephony communications and specifically of the part of those Regulations relating to the safety of life; and
(d)an elementary knowledge of the English language to be able to express himself satisfactorily both orally and in writing.
Authority of Restricted Operator’s Certificate holder to operate radio-communication services
10.  The holder of a Restricted Operator’s Certificate of Competency is authorised by the Authority to operate the radio-communication services of a licensed ship station equipped with radio-communication apparatus in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Radio Regulations for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
Validity of Certificate of Competency
11.—(1)  All Certificates of Competency issued shall be in accordance with the Radio Regulations and shall be valid so long as the International Telecommunication Convention remains in force.
(2)  Where the International Telecommunication Convention is terminated by a subsequent Convention relating to radio-communications to which the Government of Singapore is a party or ceases to apply to Singapore due to any other cause, the Certificate of Competency shall become invalid without notice to the holder of the Certificate, in which case the Certificate shall be returned to the Authority.
(3)  Notwithstanding paragraph (2), upon the return of the Certificate of Competency, the Authority may, in its discretion, revalidate the Certificate.
Suspension of Certificate of Competency
12.—(1)  A Certificate of Competency may be suspended at any time on any ground which the Authority considers sufficient.
(2)  The holder of a Certificate of Competency shall return the Certificate to the Authority upon receiving notice in writing from the Authority of its suspension.
Savings and transitional
13.—(1)  Notwithstanding the revocation of the Radio-communication (Certificates of Competency for Ship Station Operators) Regulations [Rg 2, 1990 Ed.], but subject to this regulation, a Certificate of Competency in radiocommunication, radiography or radiotelephony issued under those Regulations shall continue in force and a holder of such Certificate may perform all the acts for which he was authorised under the Certificate to perform as if these Regulations had not been enacted.
(2)  The Authority may, by notice in writing, revoke or cancel any Certificate referred to in paragraph (1).
(3)  The Authority may require the holder of a Certificate that is cancelled or revoked under paragraph (2) to produce such Certificate to the Authority and upon the production of such Certificate, the Authority may, in its discretion, issue to the holder thereof a Certificate of Competency under these Regulations in substitution for the cancelled or revoked Certificate.