Still Confused and other geriatric mutterings

[Wandering Star]

I plan to float across to Cherbourg on Thursday evening.

With this in mind, I started filling in the online Border Force form notice of departure form, all was going well until I reached the “do you have an MMSI number and if so - what is it” question, I don’t have VHF on my boat (I’m deaf) so don’t have an MMSI number so,left the reply to the relevant box empty and took the “NO” button option. However the form display won’t let me proceed further until I enter an MMSI number no matter what I try. I emailed the administrator SPCR to explain the situation and they got back to me very quickly and explained the option to select ‘NO” which I’d already tried, I’ve tried it all over again just now with the same result.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? I’ve emailed the SPCR again and included a screenshot so hopefully I’ll have a solution soon.

Next - Do I need to reserve a berth in Cherbourg Marina or can I just tie up to a visitors pontoon and walk to the marina office to have a berth allocated?

Any other advice?

 

[Boathook]

Can't help with the mmsi but for Cherbourg just find an empty berth on the visitors pontoon and tie up. Sometimes there is a berthing person in a boat but they normally checking on who has paid. Just wander up to the office and pay. Not sure of the office hours so you will to check.

 

[Wandering Star]

Thanks for the Cherbourg info. The MMSI problem is being investigated by the software developers - were talking (emailing) now!

 

[Stingo]

Do you have an EPRIB? If so, surely you have an MMSI number registered to your EPRIB?

 

[wonkywinch]

I plan to float across to Cherbourg on Thursday evening.

Any other advice?

Could this be your issue?



For the MMSI just enter Zeros. If that doesn't work then 232000000.

 

[Boathook]

@wonkywinch you should be able to create a draft so that it is ready to submit. I did this for my trip the other week.

 

[Wandering Star]

I understand the above but I’m actually having trouble completing the draft form since I don’t have an MMSI or a call number and despite using the “NO” option it won’t allow me to proceed to the next page of the form. I think the software developers are agreeing there is a bug - probably everyone has a VHF installed except me and no one else has tested those options!

 

[wonkywinch]

If the form script isn't written properly then just enter zeros to circumnavigate the issue. If the data gets read by a human then they will understand.

 

[Wandering Star]

Now there’s an idea - I’ll try that now!

 

[dunedin]

If the form script isn't written properly then just enter zeros to circumnavigate the issue. If the data gets read by a human then they will understand.

Or if the programmer has put n some limited validation rules try a 9 digit number like this example below - 232123456

All GMDSS-fitted Ships and Coast Stations have a unique 9-digit identification number, known as its Maritime Mobile Service Identity number or MMSI number. This can be thought of as it's 'telephone' number. UK registered vessels start with the digits 232, 233, 234 or 235 (as in 232123456).

 

[wonkywinch]

Or if the programmer has put n some limited validation rules try a 9 digit number like this example below - 232123456

All GMDSS-fitted Ships and Coast Stations have a unique 9-digit identification number, known as its Maritime Mobile Service Identity number or MMSI number. This can be thought of as it's 'telephone' number. UK registered vessels start with the digits 232, 233, 234 or 235 (as in 232123456).

Trouble is at first sight that looks like a genuine MMSI (in fact it is) so I stand by my suggestion of all zeros.

TEST, Passenger ship - Details and current position - MMSI 232123456 - VesselFinder

Or why not just apply for your own MMSI number?

how do i get my mmsi number

 

[doug748]

I understand the above but I’m actually having trouble completing the draft form since I don’t have an MMSI or a call number and despite using the “NO” option it won’t allow me to proceed to the next page of the form. I think the software developers are agreeing there is a bug - probably everyone has a VHF installed except me and no one else has tested those options!

Print the form, fill it in to the best of your ability and post it off.

Nice and simple, no technological jeopardy and may encourage them to retain this sensible option.

.

 

[lustyd]

retain this sensible option.

This option was never sensible even when it was current. It's the most ridiculous solution pantomime I've ever seen, in fact.

 

[Daydream believer]

Print the form, fill it in to the best of your ability and post it off.

Nice and simple, no technological jeopardy and may encourage them to retain this sensible option.

.

Just in case I get this problem
How do you print it if it will not go to the next page?

 

[wonkywinch]

Just in case I get this problem
How do you print it if it will not go to the next page?

You don't screen print the online form, they have several versions of a printable form as the first item on the help pages.

Tell Border Force and HMRC you are sailing to or from the UK in a pleasure craft

 

[Dellquay13]

A bit of thread drift, but were I to be in a similar position of having no day-to-day way of using a DSC VHF set through deafness, I would still consider having one onboard, just for the benefit of the distress button pinging my location out in an emergency.

 

[lustyd]

A bit of thread drift, but were I to be in a similar position of having no day-to-day way of using a DSC VHF set through deafness, I would still consider having one onboard, just for the benefit of the distress button pinging my location out in an emergency.

Not to mention the text based incoming distress alerts which might enable helping others if the alert is nearby. I generally don't catch the coordinates from voice but I can and do show the location on the plotter for any distress alerts just in case.

 

[dunedin]

Trouble is at first sight that looks like a genuine MMSI (in fact it is) so I stand by my suggestion of all zeros.

TEST, Passenger ship - Details and current position - MMSI 232123456 - VesselFinder

Or why not just apply for your own MMSI number?

how do i get my mmsi number

That link suggests the number I quoted was a Test MMSI number, not a real ship.

If all zeros works that is fine, but it is quite likely all zeroes fails validation as not a valid MMSI format, which the programmer may/should be checking, whereas the test number is a valid format.

 

[doug748]

This option was never sensible even when it was current. It's the most ridiculous solution pantomime I've ever seen, in fact.

It is current.

Most active sailors have little physical or intellectual difficulty in posting a letter.

.

 

[Daydream believer]

It is current.

Most active sailors have little physical or intellectual difficulty in posting a letter.

.

But it does not always get put through the right letterbox at the other end. If indeed, it does get that far