EPIRB and Bahamas Travel

Johnny Baccala

I just ordered an EPIRB today. According to BOAT US and FCC, it seems that a FCC ship station license ($215 for 10 years) is required to obtain the MMSI # if I plan on traveling to a foreign port (i.e. Bahamas).

Has anyone gone through the process?
How long for the license from FCC?
Who issues the MMSI # (is it NOAA, FCC, or BOAT US) and how long?

Any comments or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

JP

PaulBoat

The MMSI issued by BoatUS, Seatow and others is registered only with the USCG. The one you want is from the FCC and will be entered in the international SAR database.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations

Slipkid

PaulBoat wrote: »

The MMSI issued by BoatUS, Seatow and others is registered only with the USCG. The one you want is from the FCC and will be entered in the international SAR database.

http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/index.htm?job=licensing&id=ship_stations

Correct, but I think you'd find that many if not most US cruisers in the Bahamas are using the free MMSI number.

abacofever

Get FCC ship,Radio Lic. Can do online. Takes a couple days to process. Then everything will be listed together in the system,(s)

Fredtomh

Johnny Baccala wrote: »

I just ordered an EPIRB today. According to BOAT US and FCC, it seems that a FCC ship station license ($215 for 10 years) is required to obtain the MMSI # if I plan on traveling to a foreign port (i.e. Bahamas).

Has anyone gone through the process?
How long for the license from FCC?
Who issues the MMSI # (is it NOAA, FCC, or BOAT US) and how long?

Any comments or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

JP

Johnny, I just went thru the same issue with a US registered vessel that I shipped to Trinidad. I called NOAA and they informed me that I could use my US coded EPIRB. I registered it and put the Trinidad contact numbers and Marina information on the registration form.Apparently the country of registration of the vessel determines the EPIRB coding.Give NOAA a call and explain the situation to them. They were very helpfull. Thier number is 301-817-4515. Tommy

Johnny Baccala

Thanks for the input...everything is now in place.

FRN...immediate
FCC License (for MMSI #)...7 days
NOAA Registration Sticker...6 days

JP

Trit21

what is the advantage of the FCC MMSI number vs the BoatUS MMSI number besides you are registered with the SAR database? AN Epirb will still transmit even if not registered with sar I would assume?

Johnny Baccala

If traveling to international ports, FCC issued MMSI number is required (seems to be a federal statute).

Trit21

Federal Statue but I am in the Bahamas where the FED has no jurisdiction so.....useless to require something you can't enforce. My question is more will the EPIRB still work in the Bahamas with the MMSI that is received by boatus? All my paperwork and the test button seem to confirm it will still work but then again, I haven't flipped the switch and needed to be pickup up and hope I never have to be picked up by the helicopter. Knock on fiberglass.

Trit21

and I have to look at the documentation again but I don't remember them requiring a MMSI on the EPIRB registration. I know my VHF has a MMSI but my EPIRB was registered to my boat and all the information was given over, actually every year I get a new decal for it. I thought MMSI was for the VHF only now that I think about it?