MMSI registration nightmare....

[Papawads]

Our Jeanneau 43DS was originally owned by a Canadian (who named her Hawkeye), then sold to an Englishman (who named her Sandpiper) before we bought her, also British.

The ITU registration database shows ....

Owner A's Name, HAWKEYE, MMSI-A, Callsign-A (note the MMSI starts 316... which is the Canadian Radio authority)

also

Owner B's Name, Sandpiper, MMSI-B, Callsign-B (note the MMSI starts 235... which is the British Radio Authority)

The VHF Radio on board has the Canadian MMSI.

We're about to install AIS, and register other devices to the boat.

What should we do with MMSI?

1. Pull the radio, get it reprogrammed and use the 235.... number, then register to us?
2. Register the 316.... MMSI to us, even though its Canadian?
3. Throw the VHF overboard and buy another?
4. Drink and forget?

All views most welcome

Papawads
:-)

[Gudgeon]

Can't help you with the regulations ( I am in the US) of it but I would want my VHFs/AIS to be undero ne license MMSI number in my name and the boats name. Depending on difficulty to remove and send VHFs to MFRs I would remove and send to MFR for reprograming.
Just to note I have a seperate ships station license for my handheld (portable) this allows me to comunicate vis DSC with the big boat and the handheld (dinghy).

[rls8r]

Like Gudgeon, I'm in the U.S. - but from what I've read, the U.K. seems to operate in much the same way as we do (except perhaps there's a line someplace that you'll have to wait in). The current owner of the MMSI must surrender his/her registration. You'll then apply for a new ship's station license (via ofcom.org.uk) which will come with a new MMSI. You'll then have to take (or send) your VHF radio to a dealer to have the MMSI reset.

Wait until you get your boat MMSI to set up your AIS.

Get a portable MMSI for any hand-held unit you have. I'm not sure, but I believe that the U.K. may require a hand-held unit to have its own MMSI.

Not really a nightmare - just typical administrative stuff (although your options 3 and 4 are tempting).

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by Papawads

3. Throw the VHF overboard and buy another?

This may actually be the best answer (though I would hope you will dispose of it responsibly) depending on how well you like your VHF and how much it would cost to replace it with one you like just as much.

4. Drink and forget?

Is there a specific regulation in the UK requiring you to change it? In most places, the MMSI rules are vague and unenforced.


Having an accurate MMSI in the VHF is of marginal benefit. In theory it allows any rescue agency you contact using the distress button to know the name, size, color, and type of your vessel as well as your name and cell phone number without you having to tell them. They will ask you anyway. They will come look for you anyway. The purported benefit for the responding agency (other than that they can spell the boat's name correctly on the paperwork) is that in the event of an inadvertent activation or an emergency that is resolved before they arrive, and in the event they can't reach the boat via VHF voice, they know which boat to look for at the dock so they can call off the search. I think this is farfetched for VHF (and HF). The real value of the VHF/HF DSC emergency system is that it triggers automatic watchkeeping systems and provides location.



For an EPIRB or PLB, of course, the situation is much different, and having an accurate MMSI and up-to-date database entries is important.

[Cwens]

Originally Posted by rls8r

Like Gudgeon, I'm in the U.S. - but from what I've read, the U.K. seems to operate in much the same way as we do (except perhaps there's a line someplace that you'll have to wait in). The current owner of the MMSI must surrender his/her registration. You'll then apply for a new ship's station license (via ofcom.org.uk) which will come with a new MMSI. You'll then have to take (or send) your VHF radio to a dealer to have the MMSI reset.

With some VHF models (for example, the Standard Horizon HX890 is one that I know about) you don't need to physically bring the VHF to the dealer; you contact the manufacturer with the serial number and your old MMSI, and they give you a magic code that you can enter into your VHF to change the MMSI.

[rls8r]

ChrisOwens -

Yep, some of the newer models support user changes to the MMSI. Standard Horizon hand-held models using firmware version 2 (or later) allow this. There are YouTube videos explaining how. Fixed Standard Horizon units running firmware version 5 (or later) also allow the MMSI to be reset by the user. I haven't seen any YouTube videos for the fixed units but the procedure is the same as for the hand-held units. Just did this for my HX870. Very easy. Welcome change!

I don't know about other manufacturers' units.

Good catch!

[Strait Shooter]

Originally Posted by rls8r

ChrisOwens -

Yep, some of the newer models support user changes to the MMSI. Standard Horizon hand-held models using firmware version 2 (or later) allow this. There are YouTube videos explaining how. Fixed Standard Horizon units running firmware version 5 (or later) also allow the MMSI to be reset by the user. I haven't seen any YouTube videos for the fixed units but the procedure is the same as for the hand-held units. Just did this for my HX870. Very easy. Welcome change!

I don't know about other manufacturers' units.

Good catch!

The above is correct. I have recently had the opportunity to install a new AIS that had the MMSI pre-programmed (of course). To match the MMSI in the Standard Horizon I was instructed by https://www.milltechmarine.com/ (great guy) to contact tech support at Standard Horizon.
Their first instructions were to turn the radio on and watch the firmware version as it turns on. As stated if it is firmware version 5 or greater they have the ability to walk you through the reprogramming of the number. The only reason they can do this is because technically you're having them reprogram it, which meets the letter of the law restricting an end user reprogramming.

I've often wondered since then what other manufacturers were doing.

[hjohnson]

Your vhf should match your UK MMSI. If the poop hits the proverbial fan, and someone has to mash that red “Distress” button, you do not want any confusion.

When we moved our boat from US to Canada, our radio at that time had one reprogramming left on it, so we used that. We’ve since replaced it, but that was the first thing we did after getting our Canadian MMSI.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Papawads

What should we do with MMSI?

Were it me... assuming it works within your legal regime...

Ignore previous owners and previous MMSIs.

Get a new MMSI for yourselves, linked with your (new?) boat name.

Have the radio reprogrammed to your new MMSI.

Enjoy your drinks.

-Chris

[stevead]

While the forum is often a great place to get advice, as you are British, why not go to the definitive source for UK radio related stuff, Ofcomm

Put simply the previous British owner should surrender their existing licence and you should apply for a new licence.

[smac999]

get your own new number for your country. pull vhf and get your new number put into it (or replace it..). then put new number into ais.

[Cloroxbottle]

What make and model of VHF is it? I did a little digging and discovered instructions online on how to reprogram my Standard Horizon's MMSI.

[Statistical]

If you want to do it right:
1) Get your own MMSI number for your boat (how depends on your country).
2) Reprogram* the radio with your MMSI or replace the radio with a new one and program the replacement with your MMSI.
3) Buy an AIS. Program it with your MMSI.

*How to do this, if it is even possible, and what cost if any will depend on the specific radio model.

[donradcliffe]

Its a bit different system in the good old USA. If you work with the FCC and get the old owner to surrender the previous license, the FCC will then issue you a new license with the original MMSI so you don't have to reprogram or buy new radios.

[Statistical]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Its a bit different system in the good old USA. If you work with the FCC and get the old owner to surrender the previous license, the FCC will then issue you a new license with the original MMSI so you don't have to reprogram or buy new radios.

The added issue here is the radio isn't programmed with prior owner's MMSI but the MMSI of the owner before that.