Technically, legally, both U.S. and Canadian boats are supposed to have a station license when sailing out of their home country's waters. (This may be a default international rule I am not sure.)
Canada and the United States had an agreement to drop that requirement between our respective countries, but before it came into effect the 911 attacks happened, and the United States Government refused to proceed with it. This may be why there is so little enforcement. Steve Thomas C&C27 MKIII Port Stanley, ON ----- Original Message ----- From: Rick Brass via CnC-List To: [email protected] Cc: Rick Brass Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 21:49 Subject: Re: Stus-List MMSI Number Assigning Authority (USA and Canada) The basic difference between an MMSI issued by Boat/US and one from the FCC is the availability of the data to search and rescue agencies. Boat/US share the database of boat description, emergency contacts, persons on board, cell phones aboard, etc. with the USCG. So if you make a distress call in US waters (or within range of the USCG) they look up your boat information, call your home and emergency contacts to make sure it is not a false alarm, call you back on the radio to identify your emergency and start the SAR process. If you are out of the area covered by USCG, the SAR agency that gets your DSC mayday call gets your MMSI and position, but does not have access to the other information you submit with your application. They know you’re out there, but they don’t know who they are looking for or what resources they might need. That could potentially impede the search. Also, the majority of mayday calls received by the USCG are false alarms or hoaxes. Not to disparage any 3rd world SAR agencies or imply that the response to a call will be less than efficient, but can’t you imagine the following: “Hey, jefe, there is some bozo sending a distress call, but I can’t tell who or what they are.” “Damn. There’s a storm out there and it’s probably a false alarm anyway. Send out Pablo in the morning to see if he can see what’s up.” Information associated with an MMSI issued by the FCC is shared not just with the USCG, but also internationally. If you are going to be out of US territorial waters you are legally supposed to have a Ship’s Station License issued by the FCC. Getting the license usually includes the MMSI number. You also need a Ship Station License if you are operating other equipment like AIS, radar, SSB or other HF radio, or an EPIRB. Boat/US says Canada does not enforce the licensing requirement. Don’t know whether it comes up when entering other countries, but not having all the appropriate paperwork and licenses when clearing into a country might be a cause for hassles, fees, and delays. From: CnC-List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of bobmor99 . via CnC-List Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 6:44 PM To: [email protected] Cc: bobmor99 . <[email protected]> Subject: Stus-List MMSI Number Assigning Authority (USA and Canada) Just read the nice BoatUS MMSI FAQ. https://www.boatus.com/mmsi/faq.asp As I understand it, both Canadian and US boaters have a choice for quick-easy-free MMSI number assignment (by Industry Canada or BoatUS) or a slower, not-free gov't issued MMSI number (which ends in a zero). Non-gov't issued MMSI numbers are only for use in Canadian or US waters. What would be the ramifications if I issued a DSC distress call from a radio with a BoatUS-supplied MMSI in, e.g., Bahamian waters? Would it go unnoticed? Would I be fined? Sorry to sound like a scofflaw, just trying to understand how the system works. Bob M Ox 33-1 Jax, FL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Email address: [email protected] To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the bottom of page at: http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com
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