Ofcom - aagh

Seven Spades

Seven Spades

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I just went to the ITU web site to get an MMSI of a friend and I don't know why but I just looked up my own details. I typed in the name of my boat nothing found, MMSI nothing, call sign, nothing.

I am not suprised, but it does bother my that an agency who has a great responsibility for the safety of yachtsmen can be so incompentent.

I went to the Ofcom website, but you may have already guessed that my login does not work, the request forgotten password feature does not work either. I really don't think that I could have possibly got all these details wrong and forgotten my password reminder.

http://www.itu.int/cgi-bin/htsh/mars/ship_search.sh
 
My details come up OK on the ITU Mars database. Not complete but I know about that!

Logged into the the Ofcom site as well with no difficulty, but then I have my user ID and password written down. Password is case sensitive by the way.

Phone Ofcom. They are always very helpful on the blower.
 
Mr radio licence is dated 31.1.2008 do I would have expected it to be propagated by now.

I am sure I know my password but I will be amazed if I am wrong, it just looks very odd to me. No details and passwords not working, I wonder if I am going to be accosted by Jamie Lee Curtis...
 
After reading this I tried to log on to the Ofcom site and failed as well. I am sure that my user ID password were correct as I keep an encryted record of all my accounts.

I requested a new password successfully but this too is rejected. I will call them later to try and sort it out.
 
There is some big screw up at OFCOM and the Mars guys have stopped taking updates from OFCOM since the end of last year.

My ships license is from november 2008 and is still not updated on the MARS site. I called OFCOM and they said this is normal - and it will eventually get fixed.
 
I recently looked at the ITU website and found that the details of my boat listed the previous owners details, I bought her in November 2007 and immediately notified Ofcom of the change of ownership. Shortly after I bought her I installed a DSC VHF radio and was issued an MMSI No. by Ofcom., that also was not on the ITU listing.

I spoke to Ofcom about these errors and their reply was “ its not important, it doesn’t matter”

If its not important and doesn’t matter, why does the ITU exist ?? I know that the ITU is responsible for a great deal more than just VHF ships radio registration, but if they cant ‘do it properly, don’t do it at all’. Potentially it is peoples lives at risk.
 
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If its not important and doesn’t matter, why does the ITU exist ?? I know that the ITU is responsible for a great deal more than just VHF ships radio registration, but if they cant ‘do it properly, don’t do it at all’. Potentially it is peoples lives at risk.

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Why rely on the ITU database for your safety? It is is database and while used by some S&R services it is not always up todate and is subject to submissions by individual countries. Saying that, I have just checked and see that our records were updated in November 2008 so it is still working.

IMO, you'd be far better to register your boat on the CG 66 MCA database. The details of your vessel are then registered with the Coast Guard and you can upload a picture as well. This info is then kept on record and can be easily accessed in the event of problems.
 
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CG66 is fine, but if say I am abroad and make a dsc call. If my details are not on the ITU database will anyone know who I am.

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No, but they will if you make a voice call follow up which is what you are supposed to do! It is not sufficient just to make a DSC distress call without a voice follow up. In reality, DSC is simply a paging system that switches all DSC enabled VHF sets in range to ch 16 and of course notifies CG stations.

The better option if you are that worried and are out of VHF range is to equip yourself with an EPIRB - but then if you are a UK vessel you will register the number/unit with Falmouth CG.

The ITU database is a registration center not a safety backup!
 
Make sure you are on the right login page, they have two, secondly are you capitalising the first letter of your password?
 
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