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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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MMSI

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2011 : 17:42:07

Should we be concerned?

This weekend sailing in Biscayne Bay, we heard a USCG call about a vessel that had transmitted a distress call. No vessel name, location, or nature of distress. Nothing unusual about that.
However they (the USCG) also reported the MMSI number.

I'm under the impression that the whole purpose of MMSI is to provide info about the vessel not supplied during a distress call.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">From the Boat US site
During an emergency, the boater may push a button to automatically transmit a May Day call which would include their MMSI number (and location if the radio is linked to a GPS receiver) to every DSC radio within range. When the U.S. Coast Guard receives the unique MMSI number, it will use the information on file (emergency contact number, type of vessel, etc.) to mount a more effective rescue effort.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

So why on earth did the USCG repeat the report for over an hour, each time asking if anyone had any info to contact the USCG on #16 or a 305.nnn.nnnn phone number.

Paul
(not a conspiratorial type, but... what chances that we'll get boarded next time out

Paul

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2011 : 19:09:36

I can visualize scenarios. MMSI number but no location data and locating other boats that received the call could help localize the search. Contact is the skipper's spouse and is aboard instead of at home to answer the phone, boat identity as a white Catalina 30 isn't much help and if you're close enough to see the registry number, you should know they have a problem. I am not suggesting that it couldn't have been better, just letting it bounce through my brain.

Edited by - on

Ryan L
Navigator

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USA
230 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2011 : 22:37:31

Any VHF radio with DSC capability can transmit whatever MMSI is programmed into it, even if the MMSI is just a random number or otherwise not registered. Some people just use their phone numbers, etc. as way to sort of get around having to register for an FCC station license (if required in your area) and if you don't care if you're not in a registry. If the VHF is connected to GPS then during a distress transmission position data will still be transmitted along with the MMSI, even an unregistered MMSI, but there will be no information about the vessel unless the number is registered. People will still be able to directly contact the distressed VHF via the unregistered MMSI, but again there will be no vessel info in the domestic (or international) registries.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Should we be concerned?

This weekend sailing in Biscayne Bay, we heard a USCG call about a vessel that had transmitted a distress call. No vessel name, location, or nature of distress. Nothing unusual about that.
However they (the USCG) also reported the MMSI number.

I'm under the impression that the whole purpose of MMSI is to provide info about the vessel not supplied during a distress call.
<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">From the Boat US site
During an emergency, the boater may push a button to automatically transmit a May Day call which would include their MMSI number (and location if the radio is linked to a GPS receiver) to every DSC radio within range. When the U.S. Coast Guard receives the unique MMSI number, it will use the information on file (emergency contact number, type of vessel, etc.) to mount a more effective rescue effort.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

So why on earth did the USCG repeat the report for over an hour, each time asking if anyone had any info to contact the USCG on #16 or a 305.nnn.nnnn phone number.

Paul
(not a conspiratorial type, but... what chances that we'll get boarded next time out

Paul

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2011 : 03:35:37

Just fired off an email to Boat US to get their take on it.

Paul

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9087 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2011 : 06:53:34

In the event of a Mayday (DSC or Ch. 16) where the Coast Guard cannot get a response, they will repeatedly broadcast for "any information", and usually (around here) will have a general location such as "south of Montauk Point" based on triangulation on the signal. That MMSI must not have been registered, so they may have been hoping that the whoever may have inadvertently sent the DSC Mayday would recognize their MMSI and respond.

If it was unregistered, it probably belonged to some yahoo who never bothered to figure out what the little red thingy was for, so was "trying it out"--or some kids were out on the boat, fooling around...

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5416 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2011 : 18:35:44

Over this summer, I heard two such instances in Long Island Sound, where unknown vessels issued a distress call using the DSC red button without GPS coordinates, and did not follow up with a voice report or a distress call. USCG repeated a call for additional information for several hours. Checking subsequent news reports, no vessels in distress were listed locally. They did not release the MMSI numbers, but did ID the approximate locations.
I found it particularly distressing, as I take all such calls seriously. I can picture a person struggling with only seconds to spare hitting the button in a last ditch effort to get help before they're overwhelmed, but then I reflect on what are the odds of that, versus it being a false alarm.
Frankly, I think we're all better off with a few false alarms, rather than the real thing.

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.