I don't like the "Warning" threads but I thought it might be a good idea to post my recent experience:
I'm getting ready to order an AIS transceiver and in the USA, it's a requirement that they be programmed by the dealer before delivery. There's a form to fill out so instead of driving to the marina to get my MMSI number, I decided to just look it up on myboatus.com.
Well, I found the number alright but I noticed that in the database it was listed as "cancelled". That didn't seem right so I fired off a polite email stating that I hadn't cancelled my number and asking for them to reinstate it.
I got an email today indicating that they had made my number active but they also showed the history. It seems my MMSI number had been cancelled in 2009, just one year after I had applied for it. So for all these years I had a "dead" MMSI number in my VHF.
I'm apparently good to go now but I suggest checking from time to time to see if your number is valid.
I'm getting ready to order an AIS transceiver and in the USA, it's a requirement that they be programmed by the dealer before delivery. There's a form to fill out so instead of driving to the marina to get my MMSI number, I decided to just look it up on myboatus.com.
Well, I found the number alright but I noticed that in the database it was listed as "cancelled". That didn't seem right so I fired off a polite email stating that I hadn't cancelled my number and asking for them to reinstate it.
I got an email today indicating that they had made my number active but they also showed the history. It seems my MMSI number had been cancelled in 2009, just one year after I had applied for it. So for all these years I had a "dead" MMSI number in my VHF.
I'm apparently good to go now but I suggest checking from time to time to see if your number is valid.