MMSI number

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JJS54

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Having bought our boat last year, I'm trying to get all the documentation and licences etc up to date, and have run into a situation with the VHF radio.
In their application process Ofcom ask whether the boat has ever previously been issued with a Ship Radio Licence. So I checked with the ITU Ship Station database and it would appear that the boat is not currently registered. However, a quick run through the radio's DSC menu reveals that it already has an MMSI number, and when I entered that into the ITU database search, it came up with a match for a different VHF radio that is now registered to a vessel belonging to the last-but-one owner of my boat. (I know this, because I have all the previous bills of sale.)
I'm not sure how he managed to transfer it, but in any event, I presume that Ofcom will now issue me with a new MMSI number and call sign, and that leaves me with the problem of changing the number in my radio. I read in the manual that I can't do it myself, so what next?
 
JJS54 said:
Having bought our boat last year, I'm trying to get all the documentation and licences etc up to date, and have run into a situation with the VHF radio.
In their application process Ofcom ask whether the boat has ever previously been issued with a Ship Radio Licence. So I checked with the ITU Ship Station database and it would appear that the boat is not currently registered. However, a quick run through the radio's DSC menu reveals that it already has an MMSI number, and when I entered that into the ITU database search, it came up with a match for a different VHF radio that is now registered to a vessel belonging to the last-but-one owner of my boat. (I know this, because I have all the previous bills of sale.)
I'm not sure how he managed to transfer it, but in any event, I presume that Ofcom will now issue me with a new MMSI number and call sign, and that leaves me with the problem of changing the number in my radio. I read in the manual that I can't do it myself, so what next?
Click to expand...
Is it not possible to do a factory reset of the radio and then start again?
 
That happened to me, unbeknown to me the first owner programmed the mmsi into his next boat and registered it with a similar name, the subsequent owners didn't bother to register, I identified the mmsi from the radio and attempted to register it in my name, I had a brief problem with offcom who wanted to know why I was attempting to register a boat I didn't own!!!
In the end, I had to do a new registration and change the radio, the existing radio could have been reprogrammed by the manufacturer or an approved service agent.
 
Bat21 said:
That happened to me, unbeknown to me the first owner programmed the mmsi into his next boat and registered it with a similar name, the subsequent owners didn't bother to register, I identified the mmsi from the radio and attempted to register it in my name, I had a brief problem with offcom who wanted to know why I was attempting to register a boat I didn't own!!!
In the end, I had to do a new registration and change the radio, the existing radio could have been reprogrammed by the manufacturer or an approved service agent.
Click to expand...

harvey38 said:
This may answer part of your question, as for the radio , it will need to be done with the help of a service agent as Bat21 states.

MMSI number
Click to expand...

That's what I suspected. I've emailed Icom for details of a service agent locally. I don't really want to buy a new radio!
 
Thanks for the replies. I've just got the new licence (and MMSI) from Ofcom - that was the easy bit. Now waiting for Icom to get back to me before deciding the next move.
I suppose it just goes to show that even what should be relatively straightforward tasks can have a very large PITA factor!
 
I have info on how to erase the MMSI number from a Simrad RD68 but probably won't suit you. However it would appear to be possible in theory.
Try contacting the radio manufacturer to see what they can do. Doubtless it can be done for a fee!
 
Yes, a fee’s involved! I’ve spoken to the local distributor and they’ve told me to take it out of the boat, drop it off with them, and they’ll reprogramme. It’s just frustrating that a former owner didn’t appear to follow the correct procedure, and I’m the one picking up the bill.
C’est la vie.
 
Just jumping on this 2 year old thread - I'm in exactly the same position, but it appears from the ITU database that the existing MMSI number in my radio has never been registered!

That said, I've just searched on my current handheld vhf using the MMSI & call sign allocated by OFCOM 2 years ago, and that doesn't come up either so not sure how reliable that check actually is!

So - 3rd hand VHF radio has an MMSI that no-one but me knows about. I've registered a new Ship Radio licence with Ofcom and been allocated a Call Sign and MMSI number by them, but now a) I have no way of putting that MMSI number into my VHF set, and b) I have no way of telling Ofcom that the MMSI number in my radio is actually mine! What a farce!
 
citygent111 said:
Just jumping on this 2 year old thread - I'm in exactly the same position, but it appears from the ITU database that the existing MMSI number in my radio has never been registered!

That said, I've just searched on my current handheld vhf using the MMSI & call sign allocated by OFCOM 2 years ago, and that doesn't come up either so not sure how reliable that check actually is!

So - 3rd hand VHF radio has an MMSI that no-one but me knows about. I've registered a new Ship Radio licence with Ofcom and been allocated a Call Sign and MMSI number by them, but now a) I have no way of putting that MMSI number into my VHF set, and b) I have no way of telling Ofcom that the MMSI number in my radio is actually mine! What a farce!
Click to expand...
Not a farce at all.

Cancel your licence. Start a new licence and when it asks if the boat has had a previous license, say yes and enter the MMSI that's in the VHF. If you know the call sign, enter that too, if not leave it blank.
 
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PaulRainbow said:
Not a farce at all.

Cancel your licence. Start a new licence and when it asks if the boat has had a previous license, say yes and enter the MMSI that's in the VHF. If you know the call sign, enter that too, if not leave it blank.
Click to expand...
Tried that but it wouldn't let me move forward without the previous call sign?
 
Anyhow this reminded me to review and refresh my ships radio license which I like to do most years .
If there are no changes just make one small change like delete and re-list a piece of equipment and it generates a new license.
 
This whole process is horrible when you have bought a boat with a radio. It sometimes turns out cheaper and far less hassle to buy a new radio than get it reprogrammed which is a horrible waste or some people just use it as is and ignor the whole DSC part of the radio. Not ideal but hey ho
 
Wanting to change the MMSI on my M-Tech DCS Radio, the manual said to send it back to the manufacturer about changing it, however doing a Google search came up method on a forum site (sorry but can't remember which), which worked perfectly.
 
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