My MMSI number was given and installed this month.

Does this mean, the problem has been solved by Ofcom and it's unique to my boat?

Andy

Dick Holness reported an identical problem in Sailing Today magazine. I think it could be as a result of his complaint that OfCom are now notifying holders of duplicate MMSIs. The problem is actually even worse than you might think because your boat name and other details may be missing or corrupt on the international MMSI database. As an IT professional I find this incompetence staggering!

 Tony Lavelle

This response is to Cathy's original article, revolving around her statement of:

 "Ofcom have told me that all costs incurred will be reimbursed by them but failed to explain how I can safely put to sea whilst my radio is away being re-programmed by the manufacturer. I suggested that the only safe option is for them to pay for a new radio to be installed."

 Cathy, as an experienced yachtie I feel that you might be caught up in our UK 'nanny state' with regards to safety equipment. (Actually, in most sports, pastimes, workplaces, roads, race tracks, etc)

 I'm sure that there will be numerous people disagreeing with me but I feel your reliance on the DSC functionality should be regarded as a 'nice to have' rather than something on which you rely every time you sail.

Safety comes from the way we deal with the situations that the sea presents to us, prudent decisions and actions, not the nice gadgets that we have to 'dig ourselves out of the proverbial' once disaster has occured.  If you have such delights as DSC on your VHF (Yes, I do too) that's great but please don't rely on it, in the same way as us yachties should only consider things like lifejackets to be used (used, as in the 'inflate' tag to be pulled...) once no part of the hull is visible above the surface or your boat is sailing away from you.

In short, DSC is one of the 'last resort' 'nice to haves'.  Don't let the absence of it spoil or reduce your use of the sea, after all, mariners have used the sea for thousands of years without it or any type of radio.

I'm sure that there will be numerous people disagreeing with me but I feel your reliance on the DSC functionality should be regarded as a 'nice to have' rather than something on which you rely every time you sail.

I will for one! A properly working DSC set linked to a (working) GPS means a distress call can be put out in about 15 seconds by anyone who can push a red button giving a position. No need to select channels, no need to work out position, no need to be able to read a GPS, etc. I know it ll be an undesignated DSC alert but the SAR services at least have a position and they will respond even if you don't follow up with the Ch16 voice message. Time yourself working out a position or reading out a Mayday message...

Safety comes from the way we deal with the situations that the sea presents to us, prudent decisions and actions, not the nice gadgets that we have to 'dig ourselves out of the proverbial' once disaster has occured.

Agreed. But the disasters happen to the best of us despite the most prudent desisions and actions so having those gadets and knowing how to use them is essential for some items and nice to have for others.

...in the same way as us yachties should only consider things like lifejackets to be used (used, as in the 'inflate' tag to be pulled...) once no part of the hull is visible above the surface or your boat is sailing away from you.

That has to be one of the silliest statements I have ever heard. LIiejackets are there to be worn if there is a risk of you ending up in the water - especially around the UK coast - you will struggle to survive very long at all, the water temperature in the Humber has been around the 4 -5 C mark untl the last couple of weeks. Its no good in the locker when the boat IS sailing away with you in the water. And you have it on (and the liferaft inflated) long long before the hull disappears below the waterline. You could even be donning it - assuming you ve read the instructs beforehand - whilst your nice DSC set sends your Mayday for you...

W.

Nope - just experienced (about 25 years of boating now) and sensible seaman who accepts that he has a duty to his crew and family to ensure we all get home safely.

Oh and incidentially a fulltime lifeboat crew - albeit my postings are MY opinions and not necessarily those of the RNLI - think they share the lifejacket ones at least...

W.

Just shows you though that its not a very efficient NANNY.

I wonder how much we'd get fined for completing the regfistration documents incorrectly?

They just say oops sorry and carry on regardless.

Clearly a totally unacceptable situation!

BTW has anyone ever actually used their DSC emergency button? Or come to that ever used a VHF in DSC mode?

BTW has anyone ever actually used their DSC emergency button? Or come to that ever used a VHF in DSC mode?

Used the emergency button in test mode and used DSC on numerous occasions - usually when they don't respond to an initial voice call.

W.

Yes, I managed to press the DSC button when using the test rig on the training course to convert from my 'old' VHF licence to the 'new' GMDSS one. 

I felt that I should at least press 'the button' when I had the chance - hopefully the only time I'll ever press it!

It did amuse me that, in our web-enabled age, we had to wait for a letter with a pass-code to arrive snail mail before applying for my new VHF ships licence! (The one that allocates an MMSI)

A

Have you noticed how often it is the same two or three boats calling each other up all day that make you so cross with the VHF you are tempted to switch it off?

You ve been spending too much time in the Solent Cathy!

W.

Sadly, it's not just the Solent.

Most DSC sets have 'scan'. Why don't the boats out together all set to scan and call each other up on channels other than 16.... e.g. 6 or 8?

I would love to test that my DSC red button actually works. Is there a method of doing that?

I was doubtful of my aerial working correctly last season and so a friend ( a tv engineer) put a gadget in line to my aerial this winter and proved that I had a 'poor aerial'. I resoldered all my aerial plug joints and his gadget improved its reading to maximum. I can now easily hear Portland CG from the East Solent, wheras I couldn't even hear them from the West Solent before.  My radio checks also come in loud and clear now,  yet previously they were poor.

Hi Adam.......Good old Nanny State is what I say.

It paid for my schooling and several trips to hospital without which I would never have made 21 let alone enjoying sailing in my 60's.  It also pays me back with interest a teachers pension and gives me a free bus pass and money for heating in the winter.  Problem is in this country we are probably undertaxed for what we often believe we should get out of it......     Sorry, politics....but then I can remember queing up with my gran' for ration books in the late 40's and early 50's 

Those who damn it should go try living in Zimbabwe!    cheers, Scotty

It is interesting that all here are mentioning MMSI .... DSC.

Mine was duplicate Ship Radio Licence issued for my boat. I get a letter saying that they will cancel my licence, as a previous issue was valid to another holder. Now my problem was living abroad, to deal with this and get satisfactory result.

On return to UK I call Ofcom, to be told that they cannot divulge details of other holder nor can they correct the error without my writing a letter cancelling MY licence, as I am the second person issued against such boat name and Call Sign.

Now this sounds strange - same boat name and call sign ? So I push and argue, lady at other end is really adamant that she cannot help and I MUST write a letter. Finally I twig ! So I TELL her the name and address of the "First" issued licence .... suddenly I think a light dawned in OFCOM ! It was my name and address.Yes you've guessed - THEY issued 2 licences against my single application shortly after the change-over mess ! She STILL insisted I should write a letter, to which I replied absolutely NOT ... I would write an e-mail and require confirmation by return it's receipt. As I said to her - OFCOM is in 21st Century now with rest of world.

They acknowledged my e-mail and cancelled one of the licences themselves ................. have you guessed ? Yep - the WRONG one !! So the document I had on board was now invalid. Of course now I'm back in Latvia, so I phoned them and gave reference to a second e-mail informing them that they had cancelled wrong licence and I expected them to fwd the correct one urgently. Not only that but they were to sort their site so that I as a Expat could log-on etc. Both they did and I now have the luxury of being able to pull my hair out on their site and also have correct licence issued !!

Last chat with them - they admitted that lack of being able to work on web-site was a pain and they were changing it ... which they did - you can now print of amended licences as well ! 

Scotty - check you manual if possible but most sets let you push the button(s) for a short period like 5 seconds which will self test the set.

To test the normal DSC functions ask the CG if you can do a DSC test - their MMSI number (to call) will be in the almanac.

W. 

So Kafka is alive & well at Ofcom - frankly doesn't surprise me much!

I love the way all large organisations use the"Data Protection Act" to cover up for their own uselessness or to prevent themselves from being reasonable & helpful.

If any one is interested they should actually read the Act.

As my business is regulated by it, I made the effort. Amazingly there is nothing in the Act that requires an organisation not to divulge information to anyone else.

All the Act says is that the information must be kept safe (from loss) and that it must be accurate!

So if anyone tells you they need passwords and confidentiality docs signed they are frankly talking out of the place where the sun never shines.