MMSI # for BVI flagged boat

[ajbeaker]

Hi all.

First post here, so apologies if this is the wrong place, or if I bend any rules!

I have recently acquired a Leopard catamaran out of the Moorings fleet in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and I intend to relocate the boat to the BVI within the next couple of months.

As a non-citizen (British Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident), I was unable to do USCG documentation, so the boat is (or will be shortly) registered as a BVI vessel.

Now to the problem: For the passage down to Tortola, I want to add an AIS transceiver to the boat, which seems to require an MMSI number to purchase. I'm not sure if the boat has ever had one, but my understanding is that it wouldn't be transferred anyway, due to new ownership and change of vessel name.

All the online MMSI resources I've found seem to be limited to "recreational boats in U.S. waters", which is not applicable here. Can anyone point me in the right direction to obtain an MMSI for a BVI-flagged vessel, owned by a British citizen living in the U.S..?! Is this an FCC thing?

Many thanks for any help or advice!

Andy.

[StuM]

You should get your MMSI from BVI if you are registering there.

Google gave me this link, but the site appears to be down:

www.vishipping.gov.vg


However, Google's cache does have a copy of the application form:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY COMMISSION APPLICATION FOR SHIP RADIO LICENCE

[Zanshin]

I believe that even though you are no longer a U.K. resident, as a citizen you can flag the vessel under the U.K. flag. This might be easier and cheaper in the long, as you'd need to create a BVI company to flag it there. OFCOM in the U.K. will issue you a British MMSI number and if you go the SSR route you won't need to get the boat measured. I got a Part I registry and used a surveyor in the BVI to do required tonnage survey and it really wasn't a great issue.

[jeremiason]

You need a Ship's Station License from the UK...

Here is the web site that explains everything:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your...ensing-service

[Hoofsmit]

Originally Posted by jeremiason

You need a Ship's Station License from the UK...

Here is the web site that explains everything:

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/manage-your...ensing-service

Deleted post ....... My suggestion is not as yet legal outside uk waters !
Sent from my iPad.......i apologise for the auto corrects !!!

[svlamorocha]

The BVI folks are a bit slow and expensive for radio licenses (and presumably MMSI). If you want to go back to UK Part III reg (aka SSR) as Zanshin suggests, you can do everything online without a tonnage survey.

[Zanshin]

I just renewed my 5 year ship registration for GBP49 (Part I); which is quite cheap. MMSI for AIS, VHF, ATIS, EPIRB and SSB don't cost anything beyond the initial registration. Nominally a British citizen could register a boat in the BVI without creating an IBC, in reality they force you to do do, and a BVI corporation like that will cost just shy of $1000 per annum.

[helise]

Originally Posted by ajbeaker

Hi all.

First post here, so apologies if this is the wrong place, or if I bend any rules!

I have recently acquired a Leopard catamaran out of the Moorings fleet in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and I intend to relocate the boat to the BVI within the next couple of months.

As a non-citizen (British Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident), I was unable to do USCG documentation, so the boat is (or will be shortly) registered as a BVI vessel.

Now to the problem: For the passage down to Tortola, I want to add an AIS transceiver to the boat, which seems to require an MMSI number to purchase. I'm not sure if the boat has ever had one, but my understanding is that it wouldn't be transferred anyway, due to new ownership and change of vessel name.

All the online MMSI resources I've found seem to be limited to "recreational boats in U.S. waters", which is not applicable here. Can anyone point me in the right direction to obtain an MMSI for a BVI-flagged vessel, owned by a British citizen living in the U.S..?! Is this an FCC thing?

Many thanks for any help or advice!

Andy.

Hi! Andy,

Too much trouble! We gone through the same few years ago. Changed to Langkawi Flag and will getting full registration, Ship Station Radio License (MMSI NO) within three (3) weeks with less that USD2K.

Regards.

[jclark500]

Originally Posted by helise

Hi! Andy,

Too much trouble! We gone through the same few years ago. Changed to Langkawi Flag and will getting full registration, Ship Station Radio License (MMSI NO) within three (3) weeks with less that USD2K.

Regards.

Did you handle documentation in Langkawi yourself? If you used an outside source you were happy with, could you provide contact?

Thanks,

Jeff

[helise]

Originally Posted by jclark500

Did you handle documentation in Langkawi yourself? If you used an outside source you were happy with, could you provide contact?

Thanks,

Jeff

Hi! Jeff,

We engaged a local agent in Malaysia, Captain Joe Abdullah from Malaysian Marine Supplies Sdn.Bhd. Email address: Info.marine@rocketmail.com, mobile no. +6019-7990170 and website: www.facebook.com/LangkawiRegistry

Cheers......

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by ajbeaker

Hi all.

First post here, so apologies if this is the wrong place, or if I bend any rules!

I have recently acquired a Leopard catamaran out of the Moorings fleet in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and I intend to relocate the boat to the BVI within the next couple of months.

As a non-citizen (British Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident), I was unable to do USCG documentation, so the boat is (or will be shortly) registered as a BVI vessel.

Now to the problem: For the passage down to Tortola, I want to add an AIS transceiver to the boat, which seems to require an MMSI number to purchase. I'm not sure if the boat has ever had one, but my understanding is that it wouldn't be transferred anyway, due to new ownership and change of vessel name.

All the online MMSI resources I've found seem to be limited to "recreational boats in U.S. waters", which is not applicable here. Can anyone point me in the right direction to obtain an MMSI for a BVI-flagged vessel, owned by a British citizen living in the U.S..?! Is this an FCC thing?

Many thanks for any help or advice!

Andy.

You can register the boat in the Delaware, USA under a name of a company (Ltd or LLC) that is fully owned by you, even though you are not a citizen of the USA. There are agent companies that do this for you against very reasonable fees.
Once you are registered in Delaware, the FCC site will allow registration of the ship's radio station and allocate a MMSI number.

[sailingforfun]

BVI's will issue your MMSI #.

A previous forum poster provided the following information about 18 months ago for BVI registration. I used their advise and was satisfied. They took care of the BVI registration, radio license, MMSI # etc. You will need a tonnage survey. We bought a new Lagoon in France and had it BVI registered.

What I learned is if you are a UK citizen you can register the boat in your own name, which I did, you do not need to set up a BVI corporation.

Trident Trust
Trident Chambers, Wickham Cay, PO Box 146
Road Town, Tortola, BVI

My contact was:
John O'Neil
joneil@tridenttrust.com
284-494-2434

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Andy.

[ajbeaker]

Thanks to all that responded to this. Just wanted to post the final conclusion, for the benefit of others:

The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of the BVI Government is the correct body for Ship Station Licenses and MMSI numbers for BVI flagged vessels. The forms are a little confusing, but not too bad by government standards!

Since it came up in the thread, a UK citizen can indeed register/document a BVI vessel personally, without forming a local corporation. This is what I've done (at least until I become a U.S. citizen and can go to USCG documentation). A local representative is still required, but the cost is way less than maintaining a corp.

I will post here again if I encounter any issues dealing with the BVI TRC.

Thanks all,

Andy.

[SVTyee]

Originally Posted by ajbeaker

Hi all.

First post here, so apologies if this is the wrong place, or if I bend any rules!

I have recently acquired a Leopard catamaran out of the Moorings fleet in Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and I intend to relocate the boat to the BVI within the next couple of months.

As a non-citizen (British Citizen/U.S. Permanent Resident), I was unable to do USCG documentation, so the boat is (or will be shortly) registered as a BVI vessel.

Now to the problem: For the passage down to Tortola, I want to add an AIS transceiver to the boat, which seems to require an MMSI number to purchase. I'm not sure if the boat has ever had one, but my understanding is that it wouldn't be transferred anyway, due to new ownership and change of vessel name.

All the online MMSI resources I've found seem to be limited to "recreational boats in U.S. waters", which is not applicable here. Can anyone point me in the right direction to obtain an MMSI for a BVI-flagged vessel, owned by a British citizen living in the U.S..?! Is this an FCC thing?

Many thanks for any help or advice!

Andy.

Andy, would love more details on how your flagging went along with MMSI number. We are US perm res and have not registered in TX but are Brits. Ready to go cruising and will have to reflag in order to leave USA. BVI sounds like it maybe an option