World Radio Day: How the "Titanic" once helped marine radio achieve its breakthrough ...

Today, 13 February, is World Radio Day. It is dedicated to the importance of radio as a means of communication. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2011 and officially recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. It is intended to commemorate the founding of United Nations Radio on 13 February 1946.

The aim is to recognise the role of radio as a medium of information, education and dialogue and to promote free access to radio communication worldwide.

The emergence of radio and its maritime significance

The history of radio goes back more than a century and is closely linked to the development of wireless communication. At the end of the 19th century, the Italian engineer Guglielmo Marconi succeeded in reliably transmitting wireless signals over long distances. This was a technical revolution for shipping: for the first time, ships were able to communicate with each other and with shore stations beyond visual range.

• A must: the island of Rathlin in the Irish Sea. Where Marconi invented marine radio

Marconi's success, which had to contend with countless sceptics in his day, began when a radio call from a stranded ship signalled first aid in 1899 - a milestone in radio history and the first evidence of the life-saving use of radio technology at sea.

The sinking of the "Titanic" in 1912 was a dramatic turning point. Its distress calls sent by radio meant that rescue ships quickly set course for the shipwrecked vessel and many people were rescued. This event significantly accelerated international regulations on mandatory radio communication on board and made marine radio an integral part of maritime safety systems.

Radio thus became indispensable for seafaring: radio waves enabled communication beyond visual range. The early maritime radio services used the international emergency call channel 500 kHz, which was used as standard for Morse code distress signals for many decades.

Until the end of the 20th century, large coastal radio stations - such as the famous Portishead Radio station in England or Norddeich Radio in Germany - dominated global maritime communication. From the 1920s to the year 2000, such stations provided broadcast and marine radio-based connections between ship and shore.

From Morse code to modern marine radio standards

With the increase in shipping traffic and technical possibilities, radio communication was increasingly structured and regulated internationally. One major step forward was the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), which came into full force in 1999.

This system replaced traditional Morse marine radio procedures with a modern, digitally supported procedure that no longer relies on continuous manual listening but can, for example, enable automatic distress calls with position data via Digital Selective Calling (DSC).

DSC allows a radio to automatically send standardised messages, such as emergency or safety calls, without having to establish long voice connections. This digital function is now standard in most VHF radios and is heavily integrated into international safety and rescue systems.

Maritime radio today: safety and everyday communication at sea

For commercial vessels of all sizes and for ships on international voyages, marine radio equipment with GMDSS-capable radio equipment is mandatory. However, marine radio also plays an important role in recreational boating and leisure shipping today. In many areas, especially in sea areas such as the North Sea and Baltic Sea, VHF marine radios with DSC function have long been standard equipment on sailing and motor yachts.

The advantages of modern marine radio technology for recreational boaters are manifold:

• Security communication: In an emergency, radios make it possible to quickly make a distress call, including position data, and make direct contact with sea rescue services or other ships.
• Traffic agreements: Radio is used for informal communication between ships - for example when entering harbours, requesting passage openings or sharing information about local conditions.
• Weather and safety information: Many coastal radio services regularly transmit NAVTEX and safety information, which is essential for planning and safety on board.
• Legal requirements: In many regions, the operation of a VHF marine radio requires a valid radio operating certificate (e.g. the Short Range Certificate, SRC), which confirms knowledge of correct radio communication and procedures.

In the leisure sector, marine radio is therefore not only a safety tool, but also a connecting medium that helps to coordinate situations, minimise dangers and make everyday life on the water easier and safer.

Marine radio in the smartphone age

On World Radio Day in particular, it becomes clear that radio is not a relic from times gone by. It is an ultra-modern, robust and life-saving communication system. While smartphones dominate our everyday lives, marine radio often remains the more reliable means at sea.

10 reasons why marine radio is indispensable despite mobile phones:

1. Independent of the mobile phone network
2. Greater range over open water, away from the coast
3. Distress calls are received by all ships within range
4. Direct alerting of sea rescue services via DSC
5. Standardised emergency and safety procedures (Mayday, Pan-Pan, Sécurité)
6. Robust, seawater-resistant on-board technology
7. No connection set-up required - immediate transmission
8. Group communication instead of individual connection
9. Legally recognised means of safety communication
10. Also works when public networks are overloaded

More on the topic:

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• Don't be afraid! Even beginners can quickly get into radio conversation
• We need to talk! Why fewer and fewer skippers are using the radio, even though it can be life-threatening, as a recent maritime emergency shows
• Don't be afraid of the licence! How to optimally prepare for the radio licence exam