MMSI & Call Sign??

[scotty123]

Where are these found/obtained?

A friend has recently purchased a 2nd hand boat.

The VHF has an mmsi number showing, when initially switched on, but then screen changes.
Is there (1) an easy way of retrieving this mmsi, without switching on/off to read long number
(2) will this be unique to boat & transfer each time owner.VHF set changes
(3) where can he find the 'call Sign', which I understand, must be affixed to the VHF?

Must his VHF, be registered somewhere & what does it cost?

 

[Lucky Duck]

Ship's radio licences are issued free of charge by Ofcom, Google should lead to you to the on line application process. My experience is that they are very helpful if you have any queries or problems.

The MMSI and (as far as I know) the call sign stay with the boat on change of ownership.

I'm not aware of any specific requirement to have the call sign affixed to the VHF although having the call sign and MMSI printed somewhere nearby would be sensible.

 

[[70521]]

The VHF has an mmsi number showing, when initially switched on, but then screen changes.
Is there (1) an easy way of retrieving this mmsi, without switching on/off to read long number

You will need to check the radio's manual to find out what buttons to press.

(2) will this be unique to boat & transfer each time owner.VHF set changes

It is unique to the boat, the new owner takes over the number.

(3) where can he find the 'call Sign', which I understand, must be affixed to the VHF?

Must his VHF, be registered somewhere & what does it cost?

The call sign, rarely used as it is usual to give the boats name, is on the ships licence. Full details on the link below.

http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

 

[DJE]

You could try a search on the boat name (and/or partial MMSI) here:-

http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh

 

[scotty123]

You will need to check the radio's manual to find out what buttons to press.

It is unique to the boat, the new owner takes over the number.

The call sign, rarely used as it is usual to give the boats name, is on the ships licence. Full details on the link below.

http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/radiocommunication-licences/ships-radio/

Perhaps, I'm thinking of Coded/commercial yachts.

 

[prv]

Don't forget that as well as the ship's license, he also needs an operator's certificate. The fact that he's puzzled by these simple questions suggests that he probably doesn't have one.

Pete

 

[Gwylan]

Don't forget that as well as the ship's license, he also needs an operator's certificate. The fact that he's puzzled by these simple questions suggests that he probably doesn't have one.

Pete

And contact Of com with the change of owner details.

 

[ShinyShoe]

Or DSC call a nearby vessel using its mmsi and yours will appear on their screen

 

[SteveTibbetts]

And contact Of com with the change of owner details.

Apparently the official rules say that the previous owner has to give up the call sign by writing to them. My first call to ofcom the guy was very insistent that the deceased previous owners estate should send ofcom a copy of the death certificate.
When I called later I spoke to a very helpful lady who appreciated the sensitivity of asking the family for their dead relatives radio license details. She transferred the call sign, and therefore the MMSI number that's in the VHF, while I was on the phone.

 

[prv]

And contact Of com with the change of owner details.

That's mostly the same thing as "apply for a ship station license", which the rest of the thread had already covered.

In theory the previous owner needs to surrender his license, but he probably hasn't. I *think* they cancel the existing license when you take out a new one reusing the MMSI, but I'm not 100% sure of that. In any case, surrendering or cancelling the existing license is not really the OP's (friend's) problem.

Pete

 

[nigelmercier]

Or DSC call a nearby vessel using its mmsi and yours will appear on their screen

+1

 

[Alpha22]

Apparently the official rules say that the previous owner has to give up the call sign by writing to them. My first call to ofcom the guy was very insistent that the deceased previous owners estate should send ofcom a copy of the death certificate.
When I called later I spoke to a very helpful lady who appreciated the sensitivity of asking the family for their dead relatives radio license details. She transferred the call sign, and therefore the MMSI number that's in the VHF, while I was on the phone.

When I acquired a new (to me) boat last year. I tracked it down on the mars database. Applied on line (ofcom) and the name was changed and documentation downloaded. No cost, no interaction with Ofcom, no mention of previous owner.... it all made me wonder if anyone could apply to transfer "ownership" of call sign and MMSI?????

Your 'friend' MUST obtain an operators licence. To do this he needs to attend a course* and a test - run by the RYA. After which he will know all he needs to know.

MARS database... http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh
* - Course is not compulsory, but I think in this case he will need some training before the exam.

 

[prv]

Applied on line (ofcom) and the name was changed and documentation downloaded. No cost, no interaction with Ofcom, no mention of previous owner....

Exactly.

Strictly speaking, you didn't "change the name" though. You applied for a new Ship Station license, and Ofcom automatically cancelled the old one.

Pete

 

[dunedin]

Use a camera on repeat photo mode as the VHF is switch on, that should capture the MMSI number.

Mind you never used MMSI number or call sign on mine yet - though they were all registered initially

 

[Alpha22]

If your friend knows the name of the boat. Look it up in the MARS database. All boats are in there. http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh

Simple - MMSI and Call sign are in there.

 

[prv]

Look it up in the MARS database. All boats are in there.

All boats with a current Ship Station license are in there

Pete

 

[Bru]

All boats with a current Ship Station license are in there

Pete

All boats that had a current Ship Radio Licence the last time the database wad updated are there! (it can take months for changes to trickle through)

 

[duncan99210]

Ship station licences don't expire......

 

[aquaplane]

Chiron had a VHF onboard when I bought her but I swapped it for the DSC VHF off my previous boat. I got a new callsign and MMSI number but the previous owners details are still there in the data base, both entries modified on the same date so they don't always delete the old info.

 

[elton]

Chiron had a VHF onboard when I bought her but I swapped it for the DSC VHF off my previous boat. I got a new callsign and MMSI number but the previous owners details are still there in the data base, both entries modified on the same date so they don't always delete the old info.

Likewise. Same IMO No. (SSR) Same boat name, different call sign, new MMSI no. (first DSC radio) But something got muddled because call sign is as it was for my last boat (sunk and destroyed!) and another entry lists my boat with the previous owner and a different call sign. I don't pretend to understand