Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 11-21-2015, 09:24 AM   #1
Guru
 
drb1025's Avatar
 
City: Port Ludlow
Vessel Name: Fiddler
Vessel Model: DeFever 46
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 703
Fcc mmsi

On Tuesday I decided to start the paperwork process for an FCC MMSI, ship radio station authorization, and operator license since I spend time in Canada. I used the online application tool that also determined the fees, that I paid online with a credit card. As of Friday evening, the process was complete with new MMSI and operator license. I entered the new MMSI into both radios and cancelled my BoatUS account. What I thought would be a bureaucratic paperwork and drawn out process was just the opposite, very easy and fast.
drb1025 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 11:59 AM   #2
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
Yup, pretty painless. Now if we could just send some of those people over to National Vessel Documentation Center to straighten them out.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 01:17 PM   #3
TF Site Team
 
FlyWright's Avatar
 
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
I do my USCG documentation renewal online. It worked smoothly and I got my new Doc Certificate in the mail in about a week. I think they're improving the process...at least for renewals.
__________________
My boat is my ark. It's my mobile treehouse and my floating fishing cabin. It's my retreat and my respite. Everyday I thank God I have a boat! -Al FJB

@DeltaBridges - 25 Delta Bridges in 25 Days
FlyWright is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-2015, 04:18 PM   #4
Guru
 
O C Diver's Avatar
 
City: Fort Myers, FL... Summers in the Great Lakes
Vessel Name: Slow Hand
Vessel Model: Cherubini Independence 45
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 12,834
A simple name change where everything else remained the same is expected to take 6 months.

Ted
__________________
Blog: mvslowhand.com
I'm tired of fast moves, I've got a slow groove, on my mind.....
I want to spend some time, Not come and go in a heated rush.....
"Slow Hand" by The Pointer Sisters
O C Diver is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2015, 09:43 AM   #5
Member
 
City: Louisville
Vessel Name: Turas
Vessel Model: 2004 Selene 48
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 10
Hello. I am just starting this process and had a few questions. I recently purchased a used trawler. Do I need access to the existing MMSI number from the previous owner? Does the EPIRB need to be reassigned too?
Also, the boat does not have AIS but I plan to add it. The purchasing process of the AIS unit requires a MMSI too.

I sure don't want to get off on the wrong foot w/ regards to registering/obtaining new MMSI number(s)

I must admit, I am overwhelmed by this entire process.

Thanks in advance,

Pat
PatMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2015, 09:53 AM   #6
Guru
 
ulysses's Avatar
 
City: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Vessel Name: Ulysses
Vessel Model: Romsdal 1963
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 878
PatMac: The previous owner should complete a FCC 605 form showing he is no longer the owner. A new MMSI # should be applied for and all devices reassigned. The MMSI provides information on you as an individual. For instance if the EPIRB was deployed the first thing that happens is contact with the individual and/or designated contact person shown on the MMSI application for that ship's devices. If that is not you and / your application a lot of time will be wasted before they start searching for your EPIRB.
ulysses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-06-2015, 02:12 PM   #7
Member
 
City: Louisville
Vessel Name: Turas
Vessel Model: 2004 Selene 48
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 10
Ulysses: I spoke with the previous owner and he state I should just take care of it online. He did not offer to do anything to assist.

Is it possible for me, the new owner, to initiate this transfer or, is this something only the person on record can do?

Thanks in advance,
Pat
PatMac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 07:19 AM   #8
Guru
 
ranger58sb's Avatar
 
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,088
Don't think of it as a transfer. Instead, you're simply getting a new MMSI and (ideally) plugging it into your equipment.

Go to the FCC website yourself and get an operators license and VHF/MMSI/etc etc etc license. Once that's done, work with your radio and EPIRB manufacturers to get your new MMSI loaded into the device. (No sure about EPIRBs, but some (many? most?) VHFs only allow very few edits once an MMSI has been entered. Your manual will likely provide guidance -- as will your EPIRB manual, I suspect -- but you can contact makers direct for assistance, if necessary.

Doesn't much matter what happens to the seller's MMSI, although he really should deactivate it. Whether he does or doesn't shouldn't affect you.


The "Restricted Radiotelephone Operator's Permit" is FFC form 605-FRC. The Radio Station Authorization is FCC-605-S and the class you probably want is "SA - Ship Recreational or Voluntarily Equipped".

-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
ranger58sb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 09:00 AM   #9
Guru
 
ulysses's Avatar
 
City: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Vessel Name: Ulysses
Vessel Model: Romsdal 1963
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 878
How it might effect you if the seller does not make notification is that it is doubtful that they will issue two different ship station licenses to the same vessel. The vessel's documentation number is part of the FCC station license (MMSI) therefore you may have to provide proof of new ownership.
ulysses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 10:05 AM   #10
Guru
 
ranger58sb's Avatar
 
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,088
Hmm... good point.


I wonder if FCC checks. And then I'd also wonder if they check ownership paperwork for any un-documented (e.g., state registered) vessels...


-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
ranger58sb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 10:14 AM   #11
Guru
 
ulysses's Avatar
 
City: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Vessel Name: Ulysses
Vessel Model: Romsdal 1963
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 878
I would like to think that their computer program would check for duplicate name and "official ship number". I may be wrong though, I was once before. The license requires the "official ship number" which I assume on non-documented vessels to be the Hull ID #
ulysses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 10:32 AM   #12
Guru
 
ulysses's Avatar
 
City: Gulf Shores, Ala.
Vessel Name: Ulysses
Vessel Model: Romsdal 1963
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 878
PatMac: I have done a little research on this subject because it does get somewhat confusing. First is it you intent to operate the vessel in any countries outside the US ? Has the vessel been operated in any areas outside the US ? In other words do you think the previous owner got his MMSI assigned by someone like Boat US which can only assign a MMSI for vessels in US waters ONLY. The difference being the data base used. Vessels that may operate outside of US waters should be assigned a # from the FCC and that information is provided to an international search and rescue data base.

If the previous owner only licensed through an electronics dealer and you are not planning to go outside of US you may be able to take all your devices into a dealer and have a new # programmed and assigned.
ulysses is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-07-2015, 07:15 PM   #13
Guru
 
twistedtree's Avatar
 
City: Vermont
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,093
The MMSI number is supposed to stay with the boat across owners. Unfortunately the various issuing agencies and systems don't make that very easy. All seem to have bee built with an eye towards issuing numbers and not so much towards boats that change ownership.

In contrast, an FCC Ship's Station license DOES NOT follow the ship, but rather terminates when ownership changes. Actually, you need to cancel it when you sell your boat.

I haven't tried this myself, but I believe both BoatUS and the FCC provide a way to pick up an existing MMSI number and carry it forward to a new owner. If you buy a boat that has one already assigned, this is what you should do.

The other thing you need to do if you buy a boat with AIS is go in and change the broadcast boat info on the AIS. Unfortunately, lots of people seem to just ignore it all. I have owned and sold two boats with AIS, and both are still running around broadcasting themselves under the original name I gave the boat. One of them has changed hands 3 or more times and been renamed each time, but it still broadcasts itself as my original boat name.

There has been lots of effort to get AIS out there and used with good info, and now that those boats are changing hands, the data is getting all messed up again.
__________________
MVTanglewood.com
twistedtree is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:28 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012