Ofcom MMSI number.

D

doug748

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 Oct 2002
Messages
13,914
Location
UK. South West.
Visit site
I am trying to wrestle an MMSI number out of Ofcom in order to update my communications to Class B AIS + a fixed DSC radio:

Has anyone a link to that list of boats on the register so I can see what is there already? I may have already been allocated a number?

Has anyone any tips? My licence pre dates DSC and was applied for by post. Thanks
 
doug748 said:
I am trying to wrestle an MMSI number out of Ofcom in order to update my communications to Class B AIS + a fixed DSC radio:

Has anyone a link to that list of boats on the register so I can see what is there already? I may have already been allocated a number?

Has anyone any tips? My licence pre dates DSC and was applied for by post. Thanks
Click to expand...
Get them a call, they're very helpful.
 
Assuming it is the Ship's Radio Licence that pre-dates DSC (and not your Operators Licence) then you simply need to update it (online is free) by adding one or more items of DSC equipment and an MMSI number will be automatically allocated. There's no point in looking at the ITU database because no MMSI number has been allocated to your vessel (this can be inferred from the stated fact that you have a Ship's Radio Licence which does not have any DSC equipment listed, cos it didn't exist, and therefore an MMSI number has never been allocated)#

Edit: For clarity aimed at future readers - until relatively recently an MMSI number was only allocated if the licence included DSC equipment. At some point, I'm not sure when, this changed and all new licences now include an MMSI number regardless of the equipment list

Further edit for further clarity on the OP's point - if you have a current, and they do not expire, Ship's Radio Licence which has never been updated to include DSC equipment and which does not state an MMSI number on the licence, you can safely assume no MMSI number has been allocated to your vessel.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for the suggestions.

I have spent a happy hour and finally managed to log on and view my licence. I updated it and the old one remains unchanged. No MMSI number appeared.
Some of the licence fields are required yet reject input.

The general enquiries line has just reopened after being closed for the morning it directs me to the licencing line - which is closed for staff training.

It seems I can complain in Welsh if I like - but I have not tried that number yet.
 
Hurrah, cracked it.

Each individual page of the licence must be updated and confirmed by hitting the SAVE button at the bottom. It has now appeared with a MMSI number:

232005674

Does that sound ok? I am a bit paranoid about putting in a wrong number.
 
doug748 said:
Hurrah, cracked it.

Each individual page of the licence must be updated and confirmed by hitting the SAVE button at the bottom. It has now appeared with a MMSI number:

232005674

Does that sound ok? I am a bit paranoid about putting in a wrong number.
Click to expand...

232 is a UK MMSI number range.
 
doug748 said:
Hurrah, cracked it.

Each individual page of the licence must be updated and confirmed by hitting the SAVE button at the bottom. It has now appeared with a MMSI number:

232005674

Does that sound ok? I am a bit paranoid about putting in a wrong number.
Click to expand...

Looks fine to me

Do take extreme care entering the MMSI number into your equipment though. You get one shot at it!
 
nigelmercier said:
Hmmm. Just looked up my boat using name, not found. However, I notice there is a box which says:
MMSI/VHF Handheld Id are they implying these are the same, or you can use either? And surely the HH ID goes with a person?
Click to expand...

Dunno if they have changed it but you used to be able to include a HH ( or HHs) on you "Ship Radio licence" along with the fixed set.

You personally could hold a "Ship Portable Radio licence" which allowed you to use the radio on any vessel ( with the skippers permission) even if that vessel did not have a "Ship radio licence" The Ship portable radio licence did not have a call sign associated with it but was given an ID number prefixed with a letter T ...( sometimes therefore called a "T" licence.)
The "Ship portable radio licence" is valid only in UK waters

I have a HH included in my Ship licence. I also have a "T" licence so that I personally can use the HH on other boats even if they do not have a Ship licence.

None of my stuff is DSC ( and I do not have an operators cert for DSC)

I understand that all HH radios now have their own MMSI numbers

I guess you can enter the ship callsign , any of the MMSI numbers or a HH "T" number into the ITU MARS data base.

If I can find my "T" number I will enter it to see what happens


EDIT It wont accept the "T" number. with or without the "T"
 
Last edited:
RichardS said:
I thought all UK numbers started 235 like mine but I live and learn! :encouragement:
Click to expand...

We have four MIDs, 232, 233, 234 and 235

The USA and Singapore also have four

Panama has no less than twelve! (Reflecting that Panama is the registry of convenience for the vast majority of the world's merchant shipping)

No other country has more than three and most only have one
 
nigelmercier said:
Hmmm. Just looked up my boat using name, not found. However, I notice there is a box which says:
MMSI/VHF Handheld Id are they implying these are the same, or you can use either? And surely the HH ID goes with a person?
Click to expand...

No, the VHF Handheld Id is for handheld models with DSC and must be separate from a vessels MMSI as not necessarily linked to the boat. ie don't use your boat's MMSI on a handheld with DSC.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top