MMSI

AstoriaDave · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:57 am Post subject:

Been following this thread, especially the business about VHF licenses required for US boaters in Canada. My experience is from the deck of a sea kayak, but the requirements are the same.

In some ten seasons of active paddling on the coast of BC, much of it in Barkley Sound, and a fair share in the Queen Charlotte Islands, I never got asked if I had a VHF, never got hassled about licenses (I have both the operator's permit and the ships license), and never met anyone, Canadian or US citizen, who had ever been asked about licensing.

In remote areas, such as the Charlottes, "local usage" often differs substantially from the "official" rules for channel designations, etc., with a given channel serving as the hailing channel, a party line for ship to ship chatter, and shore-to-ship exchanges, some lengthy. Oddly, 16 in the Charlottes was not much used for hailing.

The ONLY reprimands I ever heard were from the CCG warning persons using 16 for chat to get the hell off. Just like I hear down here near the mouth of the Columbia River.

I have made one extended rescue call/query in Barkley Sound from a handheld off the beach, for some folks who did not have a VHF, and the CCG obviously was most happy I had a VHF and knew how to use it. Never a peep about call sign, license, etc. Their focus is boater safety, not picky rules.

I think the reality of usage and license checking up there differs substantially from the official requirements; as long as you do not violate established channel usage, you do not have to worry.

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:24 am Post subject:

Seems to be something fundamentally wrong with the federal government legislating what I do in a foreign country or are we all now in the armed services ?

But a couple of hundred is much cheaper than the futility of trying to argue about it.

Now lets see if I can figure out what language the forms are written in 'cos it surely is not English. Maybe they were written by one of those "hovering vessels" that we must avoid.

Thanks for the info Larry. I guess I should now allow the government to issue me an MMSI and hope that they erase the old one I got from US Boat and that my radio will aloow me "one more try" before it demands to be sent back to the manufacturer. !!!!

Seems like the only legal requirement in Canada is the radio station operator license.

I suspect the guy who got nailed in Anacortes (big boat) may have been in the category where a station license etc is mandatory.

Merv

Sneaks · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject:

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:50 pm Post subject:

Don,

My US boat assigned MMSI number does not start with a zero, don't know if that is typical.
Do think that in addition to your group suggestion, all those C-Brats with MMSI numbers who have no objection, might like to put them in their personal profile so that we could each set up our "phone lists".

Merv

starcrafttom · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:02 pm Post subject:

Hey I got a good question. I got my number, put it in my vhf and have never used it since. What is my number? Cant find where I wrote it down and do not know how to get it off the radio??? Any hints.

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject:

starcraftom,
I will come and park next to you. You press the emergency button and I will see if it pops up on my plotter.
If that doesn't work we can always ask the "nice" man who comes to rescue you (and I will take photos for the record) Wink

Seriously, I think there is a part of the Radio set-up procedure that lets you see what is in there. If you can find the book !!!

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:19 pm Post subject:

This gets funnier by the minute.. Angry

Just checked my Ray 54 manual and find out that it is not possible for me to erase my MMSI number assigned by Boat US and put in a new one when assigned by FCC. Has to go to dealer..

Anyone else done this and found a dealer that can do it??

Merv

mikeporterinmd · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 2:42 pm Post subject:

I think you can only put in the number twice on an Icom 422. Odd. Clever way
to prevent radio resales? Mike

Sneaks · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:02 pm Post subject:

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:25 pm Post subject:

We did not obtain any VHF license, either operator or station on our Inside Passage trip. However, David on Anna Leigh and I communicated mostly via amateur 2 meter radios - US and Canada recognize each other's ham licenses - as the range is better. As David noted, we did talk to a Canadian light house, and he talked to a helicopter (I had already gone back when that occurred), and I imagine we probably did talk to each other once or twice on VHF, although I mainly recall using the 2 meter radios between our two boats.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject:

Boy, that Waggoner snippet sure is helpful! Seriously, I think there is zero enforcement, like it says, but then there is always that one chance in 1,000...if CBP (it was CBP, wasn't it, Fred?) nailed a guy in Anacortes on returning from Canada, I wonder if that is the start of some new trend?

Doryman · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject:

And don't forget the original question, which was whether the BoatUS MMSI number will be valid for rescue by the CCG.

For that reason alone, it seems to me that it behoves us to go through the FCC gymnastics -- unless that, too, is a mirage.

Warren

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject:

Well, the regulations may be a pile of BS but without exception, all the coasties I have ever met are a real dedicated bunch of guys and to me the real reason for the DSC system is that you can punch that button and give them and any other boat near you that is suitably equipped, an "instant message" with the nature of your problem and your very accurate position. Since you are most likely to be rescued anyway by someone near you, that is worth many $$.
BTW, many coast guard areas are still not equipped for this.
We are lucky in the PNW that they are equipped and we often have many commercial/pleasure vessels around us which have had it for years.

The mayday and location part will work even if they do not recognise your MMSI (and I'm sure they know about the Boat US vs FCC fiasco). The only thing that will not work is that the coasties outside USA will not be able to acces your supplementary information that you filled in on the FCC 605 schedule B.

Or would someone like to tell me that it would be technically illegal to broadcast a DSC mayday in Canada ??? That would make an interesting cout case.

More importantly I guess we all need to read up on what happens if your radio/plotter receives a DSC mayday so we know what to do. Did you kne that you have options about what your receiver does IF you get a call ?

As for my "One chance" radio I am mad because I sold two "three chancers" with my old boat and if I add up the time and hassle to find an authorised Raymarine station that can reset it for me it is likely to cost me another arm and a leg.

Now, the sun is over the Yard arm and I can start to feel better

Merv

Larry H · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 8:11 pm Post subject:

Merv,

Les at E Q Marine, Cornet bay, installs Ray Marine products, perhaps he has your answer.

Larry H

Grumpy · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 9:00 pm Post subject:

Larry,

Thanks, good thought.

Les did the installation on mine and I will certainly consult "the Oracle" before going further.
On the old ones I believe a "factory reset" worked but the manual for this one specifically states that this will leave the MMSI intact. Don't ask why....

Merv