Question E1A05:
[97.5] Who must be in physical control of the station apparatus of an amateur station aboard any vessel or craft that is documented or registered in the United States?  

Choices:  
A: Only a person with an FCC Marine Radio license grant  
B: Only a person named in an amateur station license grant  
C: Any person holding an FCC issued amateur license or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation  
D: Any person named in an amateur station license grant or a person holding an unrestricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit    

Correct Answer is  C: Any person holding an FCC issued amateur license or who is authorized for alien reciprocal operation  

E1A05 — Correct answer: C

1) Why C is correct
- Part 97 requires a control operator for any amateur station transmission. On a U.S.-documented or registered vessel (a U.S.-flag craft), the control operator must be someone authorized to operate in the Amateur Radio Service: either
  - a person holding an FCC-issued amateur operator license, or
  - a person authorized by alien reciprocal operating authority (e.g., CEPT/IARP).
- This is the only choice that matches Part 97’s control-operator requirement specifically for amateur operations aboard ships.

2) Why the other choices are incorrect
- A: Only a person with an FCC Marine Radio license grant  
  - A marine/commercial license authorizes operation in the maritime services, not the Amateur Radio Service. It does not confer amateur privileges.
- B: Only a person named in an amateur station license grant  
  - The U.S. does not require a separate “station license” for amateur stations (with limited legacy exceptions). What matters is the control operator’s amateur operator authorization, not being “named” on a station license.
- D: Any person named in an amateur station license grant or a person holding an unrestricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit  
  - The Radiotelephone Operator Permit is a commercial credential and does not authorize amateur operation. The “named in a station license” part is also irrelevant/misleading for amateur stations in the U.S.

3) Useful rules of thumb
- Control operator rule (Part 97.7): An amateur station may transmit only when a control operator is present and authorized (FCC amateur license or valid reciprocal authority).
- Ship/aircraft rule (Part 97.11): On U.S.-flag vessels/aircraft, Part 97 applies; the amateur station must be under the physical control of an authorized amateur operator.
- Flag principle: A U.S.-registered/documented vessel generally follows FCC Part 97 outside foreign territorial waters; within another country’s territorial waters, that nation’s rules may also apply.