DSC radio owner change

[samwise]

We are taking over a new boat ( new to us) which has a DSC radio fitted. We are a bit confused over the MMSI number. As I understand it, the set has to be re-programmed by a dealer or someone with the appropriate software (the set is a Simrad) with a new MMSI number.
Who is responsible for the issue of the number to you? Do you have to apply for it from the licence issuing body ( this has changed so often that I have lost the plot) or is it down to you to tell them once the magic software has done its job. Any guidance, advice or previous experience gratefully received.

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[Ships_Cat]

The MMSI stays with the boat, assuming of course that it has one already.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[riojasailer]

That's not what Simrad say. We bought Rioja a year ago with DSC already installed by a previous owner. Applied for a new licence (the old one had expired). Were given a different MMSI number and had to send the set to Simrad to get the old number deleted. All done very efficiently BUT we keep being told that the number should have belonged to the boat whereas there appeared to be no way to allow this. Very frustrating and annoying.

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[MarkV]

Don't you tell Ofcom what the existing MMSI number is, rather than apply for a new one when you apply for a new licence. Never done it, just busking really.

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[Ships_Cat]

Maybe if the licence had expired the vessel no longer had a valid callsign or MMSI - so new ones required.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Mike Martin please advise

That means if you lay her up for a few years and store the VHF in the loft, so therefore do not need to pay the ships licence, we are not only in fear of losing our call sign but also the MMSI.

Is there a way of protecting these unique numbers in such circumstances?

A bit like filling in a sorn now if you take a car off the road.

Thanks.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[Mike_Martin]

The MMSI does stay with the vessel it is a "vessel identity"!

When you applied for the new Ship Radio Licence you should have filled in the bits on the form (in Section 2 of the form) that ask you for the ship's name, has it been licensed, the callsign and the MMSI number.

If you don't tell us that the vessel has been previously licensed (and therefore at least has an existing callsign) we must assume that it is a "new build" and issue it with identities for the equipment listed. If you tell us either "yes" or that "you don't know" (then furnish the ship's name and the name and address of previous owner) we will search the databses to check.

Hope this clears it up for you.
Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Mike_Martin]

Re: Mike Martin please advise

The callsign and MMSI are recycled after not being supported by a Ship Radio Licence for 2 years. This is in line with other administrations.

This was the announcement in the old RA newsletter Airwaves which used to be sent to all Maritime licensees.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/ra/topics/maritime/airwaves/airwaves5/airwave5.htm

Mike

<hr width=100% size=1>Team Executive,
Maritime & Aeronautical Team, Ofcom

 

[Ships_Cat]

Mike

Does the policy in the following press release still apply?

Ship Callsigns - RA Announces Policy Change

Press Release - 21 May 2002

The Radiocommunications Agency has announced a change of policy in the way it manages the allocation of ship radio callsigns and Maritime Mobile Service Identification (MMSI) numbers in the UK. Vessel owners in the UK have been notified that ship radio callsigns and MMSI numbers which cease to be supported by valid Ship Radio Licences may be re-allocated to other vessels.

Background
Despite having a callsign series capable of supporting more than one hundred thousand vessels, the UK is rapidly running out of unallocated callsigns. The Radiocommunications Agency recently carried out an audit of allocated callsigns and found that around 40,000 have not been supported by valid Ship Radio Licences for five years or longer. As the UK has around only 60,000 licensed craft currently, it would appear vessel owners do not always notify the Agency each time vessels are either lost or re-flagged.

The new procedure
The UK needs to take action to preserve its national allocation of callsign and MMSI numbers in the way that other administrations already do. Action will be phased to give vessel owners a chance to adjust to the new procedure. From 1st April 2003, the Agency will re-cycle those callsigns and MMSI numbers that have not been supported by a valid ship radio licence for five or more years. From 1st April 2005 this period of grace will reduce to two years.

Wherever possible, the Agency will ensure that a vessel continues with its original callsign for the duration of its operational life or until transferred from UK ownership. However under the new procedure this is no longer guaranteed, unless the vessel has an unbroken licence record or any unlicensed period is shorter than two years.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Ships_Cat]

Whoops - snap on that one, doubled - I need to work in full duplex with 2 windows open /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Gunfleet]

It's important to be able to reissue mmsis to different stations in case we get past the 999,999,999 distinct identities provided by the present system

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[Ships_Cat]

Not quite as many as that because the leading three digits are the MID which countries only get one of or a few (think, from memory, UK has 4 - 232 to 235) which leaves 999,999 per MID.

But this is reduced again for various vessel classes as there are currently rules for allocating MMSI's according to limitations in the PSTN and INMARSAT - these use up all the numbers with trailing zeros.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[Gunfleet]

How did I know...

you were going to write that? Uncanny. What time is it there?

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[Ships_Cat]

Re: How did I know...

Have woken up now - the time then, as the song goes, was around midnight.

Regards

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.

 

[samwise]

Thanks for all the posts guys. Very helpful. Sorry that Mike won't be freely available to the forum, but I understand that we can still engage him in an official capacity. I think I now have the picture. Our problem was compounded by the fact that we intend to change the name of our boat, so there is some merit in starting from scratch. Accordingly our DSC set has had its MMSI "wiped" and we await our new code from the licencing authority. As an aside, there does seem to be a fair number of unlicenced sets about the place and I wonder how many of the "radio check please" brigade have done the course and got the qualifications?

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[whisper]

Mike, that's not what I was told by a member of staff of Offcom a couple of weeks ago. They told me that the MMSI no. would change with the new owner of the boat. I've therefore just received a new one.
There's a lot of confused people out there.

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[Gunfleet]

Re: How did I know...

Another jazz fan? I saw Gillespie play it, in of all places Woolwich.

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[Ships_Cat]

Re: How did I know...

Like Monk's -

Suppertime I'm feeling sad
But it really gets bad 'round midnight... I think he played?

Not a fanatic, just like most music John.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>I am the cat but I am only 6.