A ship station (or ship radio station) is a radio station located on board a sea vessel. The ITU Radio Regulations define it as "A mobile station in the maritime mobile service located on board a vessel which is not permanently moored, other than a survival craft station."[1]
Each station is classified by the service in which it operates, permanently or temporarily. Ship station requirements may be established by law or international treaty. For instance large cargo ships traveling the open seas may be required to have long-distance communications equipment, whereas coastal ship may only need short range communications.[2] Operating such stations may require a license.[3]