Coastguard CG66 saftey identification scheme

[BrendanS]

They do have access to this data. From the Ofcom website:

Entry on the Maritime Mobile Access and Retrieval (MARS) database

Access to the MARS database is available to all international administrations for the purpose of co-ordinating search and rescue operations. Article S20 of the Radio Regulations as amended by Resolution 340 WRC-97 (from the 1997 World Radio Conference) instructs national administrations to collect this information. Resolution 340 was introduced in order to supply search and rescue authorities with the information needed to provide the most effective assistance to a ship in distress and to assess the suitability of other vessels that may be in a position to assist.

The ITU has requested that full particulars of Ship (Radio) Stations (where available) registered in the UK are supplied for inclusion on the MARS database. The Ship Fixed Radio Licence application form requests information such as "lifeboats available", "gross tonnage" etc. in order to comply.

HM Coastguard as well as the ITU have requested that the Agency ensures that wherever possible the "24 hour Emergency contact details" and where available "alternative telephone number" are supplied for ALL vessels. The information collected complements the information supplied directly to HMCG via the CG66 form and also acts as a safety net for people who are not aware of or do not use CG66.

HM Coastguard

As well as supplying your details to the MARS database, the information about you and your vessel which is taken on the application form which is relevant to search and rescue operations is sent directly to HM Coastguard in order to help them provide assistance to you in an emergency. It is hoped that in the near future the Coastguard will be able to access this information directly from our records.

2. Other than safety of life this also means:

The call sign

A vessel with a properly registered call sign can be identified easily. It also enables a vessel owner to set up an account with an accounting authority to make use of international telephone services through foreign coast stations.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/publication/ra_info/ra364.htm

 

[duncan]

very surprising - have you tried searching under your callsign rather than boat name?

 

[duncan]

I think you have actually highlighted the practical operation mode they employ and I would suggest the following -

1. operationally the CG use their database (from CG66) 'all the time'
2. data on there didn't have the MMSI number (it now does but I bet they haven't cross referenced and populated it 'cos it would be expensive)
3. initial response to a DSC alert is fast and addressed to the MMSI number; if they don't get a response someone goes off to access MARS and they try the vessel's name etc

having heard a couple of similar responses one other thing that really surprises me is why don't they use DSC to actually call the vessel raising the alert instead of broadcasting on 16 and hoping the vessel recognises it's number?

 

[philip_stevens]

Only 5 months?? I've had this boat for 20 months, and MARS still show it with the previous owners name, no MMSI number, and no vessel ID number.

"Last updated 11/02/2003". Says it all!! So who does update it???

At least the online CG66 is up-to-date with all details at Falmouth CG.

 

[MarkJohnson12345]

I imagined the whole point of DSC was to have our boat details to hand. In an emergency they would be needed, so why does the system not pull up the relevant details when you call them of any other matter?

I suspect they are still developing the system.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

I've had my boat 5 months, and the MARS db still shows the old owners details too..... hope they rely on CG66 info rather than MARS!

 

[BrendanS]

They don't need to access Mars. See my post - Ofcom provide all that information direct to them, and are planning a real time link to the Ofcom data (always up to date then, instead of however often they download the data now)

 

[duncan]

sort of yes and no I think - if CG66 didn't already exist and the CG accessed only MARS (assuming it was up to date!) then they would have certain data which, together with your position etc would be a huge improvement on nothing.
CG66 was evolved from a different perspective more 'what information would be usefull if people told us'. Anyone initially proposing to formally collect and maintain all the data on the CG66 data base internationally would be in for a rough ride on budget very fast!
Having both I would see an issue for the CG in that their volantary DB has more data than MARS gives them - so why would they bin it? In fact they would appear to be enhancing it!

Very poor that so many ships radio licence details are not being maintained on MARS by OFCOM - maybe Mike Martin will pop in with a comment some time; or anyone else? Didn't we have a CG person here too?

 

[bob_tyler]

On a recent visit to the Falmouth CG I asked if they could retrieve my CG66 info on screen.

Gave the CG my boat's name and he had the full details up within a second or two.

I then realised that a MAYDAY call followed by the boat's name (or callsign in case other boats duplicate the name) immediately gave them a great deal of essential information at their fingertips.

A great service.