UK MMSI Number application

[aircooledadams]

Hi, does anyone out there have a link to the Ofcom website where I can download a form or apply online for an MMSI Number. I've been on the site for hours and still can't fathom it out. One of the worst websites I've been on for being user friendly!

Thanks, Aircooledadams.

 

[nimbusgb]

register your radio equipment against your ssr or part 1 vessel registration. It automatically issues you an MMSI number. You don't actually apply for the MMSI number itself. Yes you are right, they dont make that clear on the site at all.

 

[Martin_J]

Hi

I believe that firstly you register on the site. They then email your login details and you can then use this login to apply for a license and if you tick DSC radio on the form they will allocate the MMSI number with the license. (This assumes you are applying for a new license for the first time for the boat and radio).

If you already have a radio on board from a previous owner and it is pre-programmed with a previous MMSI and if you have a paper license that has expired then it is a different story.

Basic FAQs are at...
https://services.ofcom.org.uk/help

and the online licensing tools appear to be at..
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/applications08/elt/

Follow the 'Amateur and Ships' link.

 

[Martin_J]

I seem to remember that once you have filled in the form with a few basic questions like boat name, emergency point of contact and types of radio to be used (and whether they are fixed or handheld) and if DSC or not then the license is emailed to you and followed up by one in the post.

The license will contain your callsign and your allocated MMSI number.

 

[VicS]

If you include a DSC radio in your application for a Ship Radio Licence (or Ship Portable Radio Licence ??) or if you add one to your existing licence you should be given the MMSI number automatically.
It should appear on the online licence, which you then print

The website for registering and applying for a licence or amending an existing licence is

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/licensing/olc/


Not important i guess but at the same time you can remove your old non DSC radio from the licence

The part of the licence showing the MMSI number(But I dont have a DSC radio)

 

[prv]

It is possible, having bought a secondhand boat with DSC, to adopt the existing MMSI number onto the new license. This is just as it should be (and hence surprising ) and saves having to get the radio reprogrammed.

Nothing gets sent in the post, it's all PDFs on the Web that you have to print out.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Nothing gets sent in the post, it's all PDFs on the Web that you have to print out.

You can still opt to do it by paper application cant you ... on payment of a fee.

Any difficulties contact Ofcom on the dog and bone. Peeps have found them helpful in the past

 

[2nd Wind]

Just had great success emailing to this address :=
licensingcentre@ofcom.org.uk

An explanation of what you want and what radio equipment you have will produce a nice quick response. Ignore the automated response telling you the email is unmonitored.
My enquiry was followed up by a phone call and then email with pdf attachments of my new licenses.

Totally agree that the online stuff is hopeless.

 

[prv]

Totally agree that the online stuff is hopeless.

Really? I found it all very easy, and refreshingly useful for a government service. My Dad who has to maintain an aviation VHF license is jealous

Pete

 

[Blue5]

Really? I found it all very easy, and refreshingly useful for a government service. My Dad who has to maintain an aviation VHF license is jealous

Pete

Agreed, When I amended my online account to reflect the equipment on our new boat, had confirmation and new MMSI number back within 1 hour, perhaps I was just lucky.

 

[emsworthy]

Sorry to hijack the OP's thread but as my query is almost identical it seemed silly to start another thread.

Our boat already had a non-DSC radio fitted when we bought it but no record of an existing licence or call sign. We have now bought a DSC radio and need an MMSI number. Can we simply apply for a new licence from scratch or do we need to somehow find the original licence?

 

[MoodySabre]

Sorry to hijack the OP's thread but as my query is almost identical it seemed silly to start another thread.

Our boat already had a non-DSC radio fitted when we bought it but no record of an existing licence or call sign. We have now bought a DSC radio and need an MMSI number. Can we simply apply for a new licence from scratch or do we need to somehow find the original licence?

I don't recall them asking for the old licence details.

 

[VicS]

Can we simply apply for a new licence from scratch or do we need to somehow find the original licence?

In theory the call sign, if there was one, should stay with the vessel for life although, I believe, a call sign from a lapsed licence can be reallocated to another vessel.

If you are not aware of any previous licence, and call sign, the simplest thing to do is assume there never was one, register to use the Ofcom online service and apply for a licence from scratch , saying no where asked if the vessel has previously been licensed.

Or of course you could ring Ofcom and ask how you should proceed. (if you do, let us know all about it)

Link to the Ofcom service in my earlier post above

 

[gasdave]

Retaining MMSI

Having recently taken ownership of my boat with it's installed DSC VHF, I have just been on the phone to Ofcom regarding transferring my name onto the existing Ship's License in the hope of retaining the MMSI number. The response was not encouraging - I was told I need to apply for a new license, which I can do free on-line, and they would issue me with a new MMSI number and call sign. Even though I am able to provide them with existing MMSI and license numbers and call sign, and the previous owner's name and address!
This would be fine if one didn't have to then remove the radio from the boat and send it off for re-programming.

Meantime I am trying the email link above to see if that is any more helpful, as described.
Surely this must be an incredibly inefficient and pointless way to do things.

 

[Stork_III]

Having recently taken ownership of my boat with it's installed DSC VHF, I have just been on the phone to Ofcom regarding transferring my name onto the existing Ship's License in the hope of retaining the MMSI number. The response was not encouraging - I was told I need to apply for a new license, which I can do free on-line, and they would issue me with a new MMSI number and call sign. Even though I am able to provide them with existing MMSI and license numbers and call sign, and the previous owner's name and address!This would be fine if one didn't have to then remove the radio from the boat and send it off for re-programming.

Meantime I am trying the email link above to see if that is any more helpful, as described.
Surely this must be an incredibly inefficient and pointless way to do things.

In October I took delivery of my new to me boat. Use my existing Ofcom logon, with new password to apply for SRL, provided existing MMSI number, and new license given immediately with old MMSI/Call Sign. Within 2 min of start new license printed off. Try it and see.

 

[bonjourmatelot]

hi gasdave,
We have just registered with ofcom, gave the previous mmsi and callsign details of the boat (the paper licence had expired in 2007) and were issued with a ships licence -I can't remember how long it took but I do remember I was surprised it was so quick! I went online into our account to print it off. The callsign and MMSI were unchanged.
Hope this helps

 

[VicS]

The response was not encouraging - I was told I need to apply for a new license, which I can do free on-line, and they would issue me with a new MMSI number and call sign

Surprised by that because the on line form asks if the vessel has previously had a licence and if so what the call sign is.

Likewise it asks about the MMSI number.

I suggest you register , if you have not already and fill out the form. (Beaten by Stork)

Have the old numbers to hand and also details of an emergency contact and know the gross reg tonnage of your vessel (an estimate will do)

The problem may be of course that the previous owner has not cancelled the licence and the call sign and MMSI are still linked to his name.
If that's the case then you may have accept new a new callsign and MMSI. Reprogramming the radio will be PITA but for some there are forumites who know how to do it.

Sorry not a route i have been done. maybe someonelse will be more help.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

In October I took delivery of my new to me boat. Use my existing Ofcom logon, with new password to apply for SRL, provided existing MMSI number, and new license given immediately with old MMSI/Call Sign. Within 2 min of start new license printed off. Try it and see.

This is exactly how I amended the licence on my boat. As a by the way the MMSI number is a one off input to the ICOM ICM601 Radio, which I understand to be the same for all DSC VHF sets.

The ship radio station is a permanent installation and with DSC and GMDSS it would play havoc if persons could enter any old MMSI number freely. I guess by locking the MMSI number to the set in a permanent radio station the operators of the GMDSS have some control of this unique identifier. The assumption being that VHF DSC sets tend to stay with a vessel.

 

[prv]

In October I took delivery of my new to me boat. Use my existing Ofcom logon, with new password to apply for SRL, provided existing MMSI number, and new license given immediately with old MMSI/Call Sign. Within 2 min of start new license printed off. Try it and see.

Same here. There's no need to reprogram the radio.

I already had a registration on the site for a handheld with a portable ("T-number") station license. I just logged in and added a new Ship's Radio License, which asked me for the existing MMSI if any. Immediate response with a PDF and the license showing up online next to my handheld.

As I said above, very easy and straightforward, and I'm surprised to read the reports of difficulty here.

Pete

 

[gasdave]

Follow-up to earlier "frustration" post....

Used the Ofcom site after logging in and eventually managed to get my new License number, retaining the original MMSI. Only slight glitch was the existing Call Sign which the previous owner had given me incorrectly (obviously read an "I" as a "1" - easy mistake), thus preventing me from progressing with the application. This led me to call them again and I spoke to a different advisor from the last time who this time clearly understood what I was trying to do. After a bit of cross-checking of the Call Sign on their database it all went pretty smoothly.
You guys are all correct - with the right information to hand the process is straightforward.

So that's another job ticked off!