Illegal HH DSC VHF for travelling skippers

[IanR]

I was asked recently to recommend a handheld VHF using DSC by one of my students. He is now a commercial skipper and wanted to add a radio to his kit bag for when he turns up on a delivery as back up.

I was surprised to discover that according to the OfCom website (my interpretation) that a DSC handheld cannot exist as a standalone device without having its MMSI linked to a hosting vessel DSC and that more importantly a hand held VHF cannot be legally used outside of its home territorial waters as the MMSI could cause confusion - for some reason the vessel MMSI causes less confusion.

This was news to me, luckily both my handhelds are old and non DSC but it does seem to make a mockery of the push towards DSC and also it appears that for the last twenty years no-one according to OfCom they have not found a solution and neither has the international community.

What do others in the industry do in these circumstances?

Come

 

[[70521]]

That is the letter of the law. We don't hear of many skippers who are locked away and the key tossed into the oggin because they carry a handheld DSC VHF, or they might just carry a handheld VHF.

 

[pvb]

What do others in the industry do in these circumstances?

I imagine they ignore the theoretical problem. I carried a DSC handheld on board for many years, without an MMSI as it wasn't CE-approved. My logic was that sending a DSC alert with my GPS coordinates was better than nothing. I now also have an approved DSC handheld which does have the MMSI number in it.

 

[capnsensible]

I used to take all sorts of stuff with me when I first started doing deliveries. Didnt ever use any of it so now I travel light!

 

[noelex]

Most countries incorporate the provision that in a genuine emergency situation anyone, even someone unlicensed, may transmit on emergency frequencies.

The digital transmission of a boats correct position makes life easier for rescue facilities and I would be very surprised if they would raise any issues.

 

[rogerthebodger]

The real problem is that the ITU only deigned the MMSI to be allocated to the vessel and did not consider that and equipment would be portable.

This applies to EPIRB's as well/

I think Ifcom did have a prefix or suffix to indicate that the DSC VHF was not a fixed set.

I have had a HH DSC VHF since 2005 and the local safety authority don't even understand this so I can only have my vessel MMSI programmed into my HH.

Technology has again overtaken the knowledge of the authorities again

 

[prv]

I think Ifcom did have a prefix or suffix to indicate that the DSC VHF was not a fixed set.

Indeed - but this is something Ofcom have done unilaterally for the UK, hence the (theoretical) restriction on taking devices thus programmed abroad. Ofcom explicitly reserve the right to change your portable MMSI if and when an international rule is ever adopted.

Pete

 

[rogerthebodger]

Indeed - but this is something Ofcom have done unilaterally for the UK, hence the (theoretical) restriction on taking devices thus programmed abroad. Ofcom explicitly reserve the right to change your portable MMSI if and when an international rule is ever adopted.

Pete

Didn't ITU also come up with a pre/suffix after Ofcom but did it differently for some unexplained reason.

 

[st599]

And then you have the ATIS/MMSI problem and when to swap between them.

The correct way to fix it would be for Ofcom to submit to the ITU that there should be an update to the rules, but as ITU is a consesnus based organisation, and it's probably not high on the list of priorities of some ITU states, it won't happen soon.

 

[Hacker]

You need a MMSI for a handheld but it doesn’t need to be linked to a specific vessel. There is an option when you register to keep it as a true portable handheld

 

[prv]

You need a MMSI for a handheld but it doesn’t need to be linked to a specific vessel. There is an option when you register to keep it as a true portable handheld

...in the UK. Only. That’s the point.

Pete

 

[LadyInBed]

You need a MMSI for a handheld but it doesn’t need to be linked to a specific vessel. There is an option when you register to keep it as a true portable handheld

Yes, the same is true for PLB's

 

[colind3782]

As there is a good chance that the handheld would be used in a liferaft, does it need to be registered to the raft as it wouldn't be on the boat anymore? I think a modicum of common sense is appropriate.

 

[knuterikt]

Didn't ITU also come up with a pre/suffix after Ofcom but did it differently for some unexplained reason.

The ITU recommendation is based on a initiative from the Norwegian authorities. I seem to remember that OfCom never proposed an alternative scheme.

 

[Momac]

There is information on the ofcom website .
It says a separate ships radio license is required for each DSC handheld. Therfore a different mmsi.
The DSC functions may not be used outside of UK waters
Information about hand-held VHF DSC
(i tried to copy a link but must be doing something wrong)

 

[st599]

You need a MMSI for a handheld but it doesn’t need to be linked to a specific vessel. There is an option when you register to keep it as a true portable handheld

That's not allowed under ITU rules, Ofcom have decided to look the other way.

As there is a good chance that the handheld would be used in a liferaft, does it need to be registered to the raft as it wouldn't be on the boat anymore? I think a modicum of common sense is appropriate.

Common Sense and ITU don't go together.
Technically your DSC handheld wouldn't be type approved abroad.

 

[DownWest]

Does anybody know if the rules have been applied? Or do they just ignore infractions?
I carry , in my little boat, a HH Standard Horizon VHF. I bought it for, new, for £50 at West Marine(exchange rate was 2:1).. For some reason, it does not have the 'Chinese Engineered' mark on it. The French authorities seem to ignore such things, just treat them as a a useful tool in emergency situations.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Just treat it as an added feature; press the red button when you're abroad and you get two lots of people looking for you.

 

[Greemble]

As there is a good chance that the handheld would be used in a liferaft, does it need to be registered to the raft as it wouldn't be on the boat anymore? I think a modicum of common sense is appropriate.

I'd think the liferaft would be considered as part, or an extension, of the yacht that just came from.
Just sounds just common sense to me.

 

[KompetentKrew]

There is information on the ofcom website .
It says a separate ships radio license is required for each DSC handheld. Therfore a different mmsi.

I obtained an MMSI for my handheld the other day - I found doing so only a little confusing.

The option for a ship portable radio license is now obvious, but not before I had tried amending my ship's license to no effect. It can't be possible that the option for a portable doesn't appear until you have a ship's license, because I read on their forums of kayakers applying for them,

Including screenshots in case they make this easier for someone else to navigate:

Make sure the issued MMSI number begins with 2359 - that's how you know it's a portable one (until they change the rules!).

I would happily use mine overseas, and can't see this being officiously policed. At least Ofcom are ensuring unique numbers are used - I bet there are parts of the world where people just make up a number to use as their handheld MMSI.