MARINE GUIDANCE NOTE

MGN 288 (M+F)

RADIO LOG BOOK: MERCHANT SHIPPING AND
FISHING VESSELS
Notice to Owners, Masters, Officers and Skippers of Fishing Vessels.
This Notice supersedes Marine Guidance Note 51

Summary
This note advises on the need for the GMDSS Log Book and the Simplified GMDSS Log Book to
comply with either Part II of the Merchant Shipping (Radio Installation) Regulations 1998, or Part III
of the Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessels) Regulations 1999.
Key Points
For Vessels complying with Part II of the Merchant Shipping (Radio Installation) Regulations 1998
a GMDSS Radio Log Book is required.
For Vessels complying with Part III of the Merchant Shipping (Radio)(Fishing Vessels) Regulations
a Simplified FV GMDSS Radio Log Book is required.
Both Log books are available from The Stationary Office Publications Centre, Bookshops and
Accredited Agents.
An example of a typical days log for each book is attached in the annex of this MGN.

Introduction / Background
1.

This notice concerns vessels complying with Part II of the Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations)
Regulations 1998, and Part III of the Merchant Shipping (Radio) (Fishing Vessels) Regulations
1999. It is a requirement under Regulation 20(1) of the Radio Installation Regulations 1998 that a
Log of matters specified in Schedule 3 of the Regulations must be maintained and be available for
Inspection. It is a requirement under Regulation 19(1) for UNITED KINGDOM DIRECTIVE
FISHING VESSELS, and under direction 25(1) for UNITED KINGDOM NON-DIRECTIVE
FISHING VESSELS of the Radio Fishing Vessels Regulations 1999, that a Radio Log of matters
specified in Schedule 3 of the Regulations must be maintained and be available for inspection. The
matters specified, to include the time of their occurrence, are:
FOR THE GMDSS RADIO LOG BOOK
(a) a summary of communications relating to distress, urgency and safety traffic and the time
such communications occurred;
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(b) a record of important incidents connected with radio service and the time such incidents
occurred; and
(c) where appropriate, the position of the ship at least once a day.
FOR SIMPLIFIED FV GMDSS RADIO LOG
A summary of communications relating to distress traffic in which the fishing vessel has
participated, and the times at which such communications occurred, shall be recorded in the
Simplified FV Radio Log as the communications occur.
2.

In order to assist Masters and Officers in maintaining the necessary records, the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency have produced a Radio Log Book (GMDSS), and a Simplified FV GMDSS
Radio Log Book. They are available from The Stationary Office (TSO) Publication Centre,
Bookshops, and Accredited Agents.
PUBLICATION DETAILS:
GMDSS RADIO LOG BOOK
ISBN 0-11-5522409
SIMPLIFIED FV GMDSS RADIO LOG BOOK
ISBN 0-11-5522492

3.

The Logs incorporate instructions for their completion to meet the legal requirements and give
details of the periodic checks of the equipment which need to be carried out. The logs need to be
maintained in duplicate and for this reason they are produced in carbonised paper.

4.

The Logs, once full, shall be delivered by the Master to the nearest Marine Office or, if abroad, to
the appropriate proper officer, at the same time as the official log Book; that is within 48 hours of
the last person discharged from the crew agreement.

5.

For illustrative purposes, an example of a typical days log for a GMDSS Radio Log Book and the
Simplified FV GMDSS Radio Log are attached.

Further Information
Further information on the contents of this Notice can be obtained from:
Navigation Safety Branch
Bay 2/29
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Telephone: +44 (0) 23 8032 9146
Fax: +44 (0) 23 8032 9204
E-Mail: Navcomm@mcga.gov.uk
General Enquiries: 24 Hour Infoline
infoline@mcga.gov.uk
0870 600 6505
MCA Website Address: Internet: http://www.mcga.gov.uk
File Ref: MNA 139/005/0017

ISO 9001:2000
FS 34835

Published: 03/2005
Crown Copyright 2005

Safer Lives, Safer Ships, Cleaner Seas

3

M.V./S.S

10.7.97

Call Sign

GUPW

DATE AND
TIME UTC

STATION
TO

M.M.S.I

STATION
FROM

0600

0605

0615
0815

Humber
Coastguard

GUPW

0815

GUPW

Humber
Coastguard

0848

1522

2006

MV
Magjuice

NONSUCH

SS Jermiah

COMMUNICATION SUMMARY,
TESTS OR REMARKS

FREQUENCY,
CHANNEL OR
SATELLITE

V/L departed Rotterdam bound

Sullom Voe Watch commenced on
all installations and on NAVTEX
from stations G, P, T & L.
Performed self-test on all DSC
facilities. Sp-Bus error on duplicate
MF/HF Controller. All other
facilities satisfactory.
Telexed shore-based maintenance
controller with ETA Sullom Voe.

Ch 70/16
2187.5/2182

Checked paper supplies.

Satisfactory.
MF DSC test/safety call.

2187.5

Acknowledged.

2187.5

Negative tidal surge warning via

NAVTEX passed to Master.
Copy attached.
DSC Distress Alert. Ships position
50 0 N 2 50 W. Acknowledged by
002320014 No response required.
Master informed.
Channel 16 blocked due to lengthy
correspondence.

518

[Signed]
Master
[Signed]
Designated Operator

2187.5

Ch 16

Simplified FV GMDSS Radio Log

F.V.
CALLSIGN & M.M.S.I.

GUPW

Date
and
Time
UTC

Station To

Station From

Operators actions or remarks

0600

Humber
Coastguard

GUPW

Performed self test on all DSC equipment.

All equipment found to be satisfactory.

0848

Negative tidal surge warning via NAVTEX

passed to Master.

Frequency,
Channel or
Satellite

518