MMSI

S

Sealeggs

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2016
Messages
57
Fluid Motion Model
C-26
Hull Identification Number
Fmlr2521a414
Vessel Name
SeaLeggs
Purchased a used 2014 Ranger Tug 25 sc withe the garmin gps and radio. Vessel has had two previos owners and noone seems to know the mmsi status number or if one has ever been applied for
We will be boating in Pac N W which may involve crossing into canadian watets. Any suggestion on pursuing an mmsi, who to contact etc etc. what info i will need off radio and where to find it Thanks in advance. Bob
 
The MMSI number can be found under system information. You can get an MMSI number by registering on Boat US. If no number was ever installed you are golden. If one was installed, call Garmin. You may have to send the unit in for a reset.
 
I am pretty sure the MMSI numbers from Boat U.S. are not valid outside the U.S., I believe Canada doesn't regularly enforce this, but the law is still on the books
 
Phil is correct that the MMSI numbers issued by BOATUS are for domestic waters only. If you want a number that is good for international travel you have to request it through the FCC. It costs about $200 (if memory serves me correctly) and takes some time (and patience at your computer) to get it. It is too bad because the BOATUS site is painless and free for US only numbers.
 
No doubt you can go there with your BoatUS number. I went to Canada with no number, no problem. The question is if you have that unforeseen disaster, that you did not plan on, and you hit the emergency button on the radio will the Canadian folks recognize you and make for a safer faster rescue? I don't know the answer, but followed the rules and got the Ship Radio License from the FCC (it is good for 10 years - cost $215) and the FCC Radio Operator Permit (good for life - cost $65)(we used to have to have these just to operate the VHF in the states and they had a limited life span, but that was a few decades ago). I believe some government services are worth paying for and the US Coast Guard and the safety factor with the MMSI numbers don't bother me.
 
If a US Boat goes into Canadian waters and uses a VHF , it has to by law, have a FCC radio License , so at the time you get your Radio License from the FCC can also request a MMSI Number from the FCC. The nice thing about getting the MMSI number from the FCC is that it is recognized internationally.
You have to fill out FCC Forms 159 and 605 with the FCC and it can all be done on line in about a hour, it took me two day to get the license approved. Here is the Link that tells you the law.
http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index. ... ations#Who Needs a Ship Station License
 
For Northwest Cruising (and probably Great Lakes) FCC is the surest way to go for safe international travel. We cruise too remotely to mess around with "maybe". We replaced our AIS300 with the AIS600 transceiver so others could see and track us for safer cruising. Works great.
 
It is my understanding that the mmsi number is used for contact info. If one was to push the emergency button on the VHF, are you implying that without the proper mmsi number it won't broadcast your coordinate and if you had no mmsi number registered properly the Canadian Coast Guard won't respond? I would find that hard to believe.
 
The CA coast guard may get your distress signal and coordinates but may not have the additional information about you and your boat from the FCC database. Apparently this data is shared for international use.
 
In other words, if your boat was adrift, boat description and contact info may not be available for identification and broadcast.
 
In other words, if your boat was adrift the coast would not have a description of your boat or contact information to broadcast and help nearby mariners identify. Again, where we go, I don't want to take any chances with lesser options.
 
To my knowledge vhf radios will not transmit distress info if a valid mmsi id has NOT been programmed. No distress calls without mmsi

International versus boatus mmsi

It's a mater of databases, international organizations have access to databases with international mmsi registrations. To keep that database clear of national registrations from boatus which by definition do not enter international or foreign waters. US coast guard has access to that national database as well. Canadian coastguard may contact us coast guard if such mmsi is received

If you plan to enter international waters, Mexico and Canada included or any location in the caribic you need to get an international mmsi better even along with a transmitting ais to be better seen by the big guys with an even better chance of being rescued.
 
Does over $200 in FCC fees sound right or am I applying for the wrong thing?
 
We paid $215.00 for our license and mssi number. It's a one time fee, good for as long as you own the vessel. We think it's worth every penny to have our information in the SAR data base in case of emegency.
 
The restricted radiotelephone operator license (for you) is lifetime.

The ship station license (for the boat) is good for 10 years, not lifetime. Still, not a big expense in the scheme of things.

And as Brad said in another thread, I sure wouldn't want any delay in search and rescue operations if we had an emergency in Canadian waters and did not have our information in the international database.
 
My MMSI is through the FCC for all of the reasons noted in the previous responses, in my opinion this makes the most sense. On a side note I had an FCC radiotelephone operators permit, which I used as an avionics technician and as a corporate pilot. However, when I made application for the MMSI, the FCC could not retrieve my original operators permit and I had to get a new one. Also, don't know how it is with Garmin, but with Raymarine, if an MMSI number has been programed by a previous owner the unit has to be sent to the factory to be re-programed. Although I have heard of a unique technician that had the equipment to do the job with out sending it to the factory.

Dwain Dumas
 
I was able to get someone from Ranger Tug (I think Glenn) to come to my boat with a laptop and the software from Garmin to reset my MMSI.
 
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