Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Anyone know how to check whether a proposed boat name is already in use on Part I of the Register? The website seems impenetrable to mere mortals.
Unique boat names & Part I Register: How to check?
- Thread starter Sticky Fingers
- Start date
Lucky Duck
Well-Known Member
I don't think it possible, the nearest equivalent is to search the MARS database of ship radio licences
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
Yes I found that. I was hoping there was a secret way in to the Pt I... !
prv
Well-Known Member
The question's come up many times before, and nobody has ever suggested anything better than MARS for a quick check or contacting the registry for an accurate answer.
Pete
doug748
Well-Known Member
You are wise to put a new, larger boat onto part 1 in my view.
The documentation asks you to put forward a number of alternatives, in case your favoured ones are taken. You can imagine why this is so, as repeated checks and consequent iteration could be very time consuming.
However, you will no doubt have a number of questions about the registration and procedure and will need to be in contact with the office informally. At these times and perhaps at the point when you are putting a cheque into the post, it might be possible to get an informal steer on things. What we used to call, in less politically correct times: Chatting up the girl in the office.
I did this when registering change of ownership and got a good hint that the original name of my boat was available. I gladly took it up.
The documentation asks you to put forward a number of alternatives, in case your favoured ones are taken. You can imagine why this is so, as repeated checks and consequent iteration could be very time consuming.
However, you will no doubt have a number of questions about the registration and procedure and will need to be in contact with the office informally. At these times and perhaps at the point when you are putting a cheque into the post, it might be possible to get an informal steer on things. What we used to call, in less politically correct times: Chatting up the girl in the office.
I did this when registering change of ownership and got a good hint that the original name of my boat was available. I gladly took it up.
Mistroma
Well-Known Member
Obviously a matter of luck. I tried something similar several years ago when trying to name my current boat. I just wanted to know if any of several variants with "of xxxx" might be available. I was told that the only way to check was to write them down on the form in order or preference and submit with a cheque. The lady said that she couldn't give me any hints from the screen in front of her. Polite enough but antiquated operating procedures.
Not a one-off either, as I called again a couple of years later in the hope that my first choice was finally available. It was actually in use but I'd heard that the original owner had let the registration lapse several months earlier. Still unable to even give a hint and only option would be to submit a form enclosing a cheque. They don't even make any profit as the cheque is returned if the name you want is not available.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
They are a polite but spectacularly unhelpful bunch generally. When I bought my boat I wanted to order new lettering for name and port of registry, and as the information wasn't on their web site I rang them up to ask what the minimum letter sizes were. The person I spoke to was polite but firm; they could not under any circumstances give me that information, and I would have to wait until the carving and marking instructions arrived with my new certificate. Which meant a wait of around three months.
Can anyone think of any plausible reason not to to have the registry searchable?
dgadee
Well-Known Member
I had the same problem (several tries) with renaming on Part 1. It struck me afterwards that most names were on the ITU site where MMSI information is kept. https://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh
pvb
Well-Known Member
It's worth having a look on the ITU database first (http://www.itu.int/online/mms/mars/ship_search.sh), registered vessels will have a number in the "IMO No" column.
Next, send in your application (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-register-a-british-ship-msf-4740) and MCA Cardiff will let you know which name is acceptable, and will reserve it for you for 3 months. They'll also tell you exactly which forms you need to complete to continue the process.
When I registered my new Bavaria in 2014, I found that the staff at Cardiff were incredibly helpful, with rapid and sensible email correspondence.
prv
Well-Known Member
jwilson
Well-Known Member
AFAIK the ITU site lists ALL radio-registered boats - in the case of my boat name there are 60 entries - either one or none of those can be Part I registered. There must be at least 59 not Part I registered.
Only if ITU shows up no boats the chances are that your name will be OK.
pvb
Well-Known Member
As I mentioned in post 9, when looking at the ITU database, registered vessels will have a number in the "IMO No" column. So if the desired name is shown, but there's no number in the "IMO No" column, it should be possible to register that name.
Just for further clarity, it's only necessary to look at vessels which are in admin area G.
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KellysEye
Well-Known Member
Give them a call they will tell you if the name you want is available: Telephone: +44(0)29 2044 8866
Sticky Fingers
Well-Known Member
and
pvb said:
Thanks. This is a useful workaround, I do think that this this registry should be searchable but it is not.
Presumably when a duplicate name exists (eg, "Teal") in the ITU and several have IMO numbers then they are different ports of registry. "Teal of Port A" and "Teal of Port B" etc..
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Some of the IMO numbers will be SSR registered - which I don't think causes you any issues with a name for full registration (though I may be wrong about that)
pvb
Well-Known Member
Yes, this is always a useful way of getting a particular name, just tag "of XYZ" on the end.
paulburn
Well-Known Member
I bought a second hand boat and wish to change ownership details and renew the part 1. They asked me to post my bill of sale (not a photocopy). I said I was reluctant as serious problem if it's lost in the post. But no compromise. So I'm going to have to drive to Cardiff and hand it to them in person !
Rivers & creeks
Well-Known Member
There are many ports of registry so you can have Passing Wind of Southampton and Passing Wind of Portsmouth.
laika
Well-Known Member
I'm not the sort to make robust rebuttals so instead I will ask what your evidence is for this? Mine for the contrary view (they won't tell you) was based on my experience of asking just that in 2010. Not being from doug748's politically incorrect times I didn't try "chatting up the girl in the office" but treating a fellow worker with good humour and respect failed to yield results beyond the assertion that they wouldn't lift a finger until I'd sent in my form with payment. Should have perhaps tried a few probing segues onto the works of de beauvoir and greer to gauge whether the chat-up approach might have been fruitful perhaps?
This has nothing to do with ports of registry. For part 1 registration the name must be unique on the whole register. Calling a boat <popular name> of <place> is fine so long as there's no other <popular name> of <place>. <place> doesn't need to be a port of registry and if it is, your port of registry doesn't need to be <place>. "Laika" and "Laika of Portsmouth" would be two distinct names and I could register "Laika of Portsmouth" with a port of registry of London.
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JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
Government IT ineptitude?
Pete
Poor wording on my part. Can you think of any good reason not to have a searchable register?
