Radio license, MMSI & Call Sign when buying a dutch boat

[pjf]

A thought has just occurred to me, when purchasing a currently Dutch flagged boat with Dutch registered MMSI and call sign etc and then re registering the boat under SSR part 3, what do I need to do regarding the ships radio license? Can I keep the existing or do I need to re license under Ofcom?

The boat is unlikely to be in the UK for at least the next 5 years.

It all seems a bit confusing but hopefully it is pretty straight forward. Crosses fingers!

 

[mikemanor]

The Ship's Radio Licence needs to be issued by the "Flag" country therefore you will need to get a Ship's Radio Licence from Ofcom. This is free, done on line and you get the licence and new MMSI and callsign instantly. You will then need, of course, to enter the new MMSI in your radio. Depending on the radio, the old MMSI will need to be cleared by a dealer. Some can be cleared by the user but most cannot.

 

[Burnham Bob]

and another thing.........your radio will probably have ATIS enabled and you can't use that in our waters although it's compulsory in Holland......noy sure how you check that but my Standard Horizon has it on the Canadian (?) channels not the UK ones

 

[maby]

You always need to take out a new Ships Radio Licence - even if the boat currently holds a UK issued licence. If it has a DSC radio already installed with the MMSI configured, you can ask to retain the MMSI on the new licence - thus avoiding the need to return the radio to the manufacturer to be wiped. I assume that you will not be able to transfer a Dutch issued MMSI to a UK licence - the initial two or three digits identify the issuing authority.

 

[VicS]

You have to apply for a new licence on change of ownership anyway, as already said.

Normally the callsign and MMSI numbers stay with the vessel and you are asked to enter them in the application.

As there is a change in country involved with this one it would be a good idea to telephone OFCOM. They always seem to be very helpful when phoned.

 

[superheat6k]

I had a similar issue on my last boat, which had been used in Germany.

I sent the VHF set to PRS Comms for re- programming the new MMSI as they were a lot cheaper than the manufacturer. They found the unit was set up for a different set if frequencies, so reset it to International settings, and at no extra charge. This was a Simrad RD68.

Find them on Google or Ebay.

 

[the lloyds]

We bought a Dutch registered yacht in March this year. Having SSR registered it on purchase using online system, we also signed up for a Ships radio licence [including our various HH and Epirb]. We were immediatley issues the Call sign and MMSI

However we did not reprogram the radio until our return to UK 3 days later. In an emergency I would have just hit the button and explained later

When passing through Dutch locks/into harbours they know your name [the previous Dutch owners] when using the ATIS system it seems

On our radio, Furuno I think you can go ATIS/US or INT with a click of a switch. However reprogramming the MMSI was done by Greengham regis on our return at no charge [they were doing something else ohn board, usually about £25

UK registered =UK MMSI