Maritime Safety information | Maritime Mobile Service Identity | AUSREP and REEFREP
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)
Introduction
AMSA allocates and issues MMSIs to Australian vessels and coast stations. The Registration database is held at RCC1 Australia. The following information is provided as background and to assist in determining whether a vessel or coast station should request an MMSI. All large commercial vessels subject to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention must carry DSC equipment appropriate to their area of operations. However, small recreational and fishing vessels may not require DSC equipment unless they plan to operate offshore or proceed overseas. Coast stations may also be equipped with DSC, and in this case also require an MMSI. MMSIs are also required for shipborne or non-shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS)2 transceivers.
1 Rescue Coordination Centre
2 Defined in ITU-R Recommendation M.1371
Is a call sign or Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) needed?
An MMSI is a unique nine-digit code set into your DSC-capable radio transceiver and/or AIS transceiver to identify your vessel or coast station. You need only one of these if you have multiple fixed DSC radios and/or AIS transceivers. You use the same MMSI for all DSC and AIS transceivers onboard the one vessel as it is a ship's identity. Since marine VHF transceivers now operate under a Class Licence, there is no requirement for an official call sign and maritime ship station licence, but the operator must have a minimum radio operator qualification of a Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP). However, for MF/HF transceivers, Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) is the minimum qualification, as well as a ship station licence (incl. callsign) issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
To download the brochure Digital Selective Calling - Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
DSC Identification
To use DSC techniques, an MF/HF DSC, VHF DSC and/or AIS transceiver must be permanently programmed with a unique nine-digit identification number known as the Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI). This can be regarded as the electronic equivalent of a radio call sign and uniquely identifies that ship or coast station. It is important to recognize that the MMSI identifies the vessel or coast station, and if more than one fixed transceiver and/or AIS transceiver is carried they are all to be programmed with the same MMSI. A vessel's 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) may also be programmed with the same MMSI. The selling agent can program the MMSI into the transceiver and AIS equipment.
The MMSI is automatically included in all DSC and AIS transmissions from a station and electronically identifies that station to the receiving station(s).
To download the brochure Digital Selective Calling - Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
MMSI Formats
Three of the nine digits of an MMSI identify country of origin. In the case of a coast station these digits indicate the country of location, and in the case of a ship station, the country of registration. The remaining six digits uniquely identify the station itself. The three digits identifying the country are known as the Maritime Identification Digits or MID. Australia's MID is 503.
An Australian vessel MMSI takes the form 503xxxxxx where x is any figure from 0 to 9.
An Australian coast station MMSI takes the form 00503xxxx where the first two figures are zero and x is any figure 0 to 9.
Group MMSIs
Groups of vessels can be called via DSC by a Group ID or Group MMSI. Group MMSIs are finding use by fleets and yacht races. Safety and Urgency DSC calls (“Announcements”) can be sent to a Group MMSI. Each vessel desiring to be part of a Group would enter the same Group MMSI into their DSC equipment, which usually can be named for convenience by the user.
Group MMSI numbers begin with a single 0 before the MID, so it takes the form 0503xxxxx (where x is any figure from 0 to 9).
Group MMSIs can be manually programmed into a DSC-equipped transceiver by the user at will (unlike the self-ID). Any number with a leading zero can be used as a Group MMSI, and they do not need to be registered, but the entity deciding on a Group MMSI must use the MID of the host country or country of vessel registration. The Group ID should be based on a key vessel in the Group, and a good way to proceed is to drop the last digit of the lead vessel’s MMSI and place a zero in front of the 503 as follows:
Example 1: a fleet of vessels has a lead or main vessel with a DSC self-ID of 503123456 and wishes to set up a Group MMSI for a special event. The group ID could be 050312345.
This would then be programmed into all fleet vessels as the special event Group MMSI.
Example 2: a fleet of vessels has a lead or main vessel with a DSC self-ID of 503080110. The Group MMSI could be 050308011. This would then be programmed into all fleet vessels as the special event Group MMSI.
Group MMSI numbers are not to be used for AIS transceivers.
MMSIs for Handheld "portable" VHF DSC transceivers.
AMSA recognises the safety potential of VHF marine transceivers with DSC capability. AMSA's policy for these units is to allocate MMSIs to individual radio transceivers rather than to a single vessel-specific MMSI. In Australia, these transceivers' MMSIs will have the format 5039xxxxx where x is any figure from 0 to 9.
These "portable" VHF DSC transceivers are only currently approved for DSC use on Australian vessels in Australian waters. When a handheld VHF transceiver changes ownership, AMSA is to be advised of the new owner's details.
The requirement to present a copy of an appropriate radio operator's qualification when applying for an MMSI also applies to MMSIs requested for the 'portable' VHF DSC transceivers described above.
A full international list of MIDs appears in List VIIA, List of Callsigns and Numerical Identities published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the ITU Manual for use by the Maritime Mobile and Maritime Mobile-Satellite Services, and the Australian Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Handbook.
Summary of Australian MMSI formats in current usage
Note: x or y to be any figure 0 through 9
Type of Station |
MMSI format |
DSC transceivers |
|
Ship stations |
503xxxxxx |
Handheld Portable VHF DSC (Australia only) |
5039xxxxx |
Group of ship stations |
0503xxxxx |
Coast station |
00503xxxx |
Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) |
|
AIS Class A/B transceivers |
503xxxxxx or 503xxx000 |
AIS Base Stations |
00503xxxx |
Physical AIS aids to navigation (AtoN) 1 |
995031xxx |
Virtual AIS aids to navigation (AtoN) 2 |
995036xxx |
AIS on craft associated with parent ship 3 |
98503xxxx |
AIS-SARTs (AIS-Search and Rescue Transmitters) 4 |
970xxyyyy |
AIS on SAR aircraft 5 |
111503xxx |
1 AIS fitted to physical aids to navigation such as floating buoys and beacons.
2 AIS base stations can broadcast a non-physical “virtual” AtoN at a particular location when no physical AtoN exists.
3 AIS on workboats or other vessels deployed from a parent vessel.
4 AIS-SARTs are new AIS devices being developed which may find application aboard ships to aid search and rescue. The xx denotes a manufacturer, and the yyyy denotes a unique serial number allocated by the manufacturer.
5 AIS on search and rescue aircraft (SAR) is a variant of AIS specifically for SAR. AIS can also be used for safety-related purposes on non-SAR aircraft (such as marine pilot-transfer helicopters).
A full international list of MIDs appears in Appendix 43 of the Radio Regulations published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Operator qualifications and licence requirements
To operate a VHF transceiver with or without DSC fitted, the minimum radio operator qualification required is the Marine Radio Operator’s VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP). The same requirement exists for AIS transceivers. VHF transceivers and AIS transceivers are covered by an ACMA Class licence, so an individual station licence is no longer required.
To operate an MF/HF transceiver (with or without DSC facilities) a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) is the minimum qualification required. A separate Maritime Ship Station licence is also required, which is issued by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Aviation radio operator qualifications are not accepted for AIS or DSC equipment carried aboard vessels. Aviation radio operator qualifications are only acceptable for AIS or DSC fitted to an aircraft.
The Marine Radio Operators Handbook provides further information about qualifications, licensing and DSC operations.
Can you use a DSC Radio correctly?
Maritime Communication Station facilities for DSC
Australia has declared the whole of the Australia Search and Rescue Region as GMDSS Sea Area A3 which gives large commercial ships the option of using Inmarsat or HF DSC as a primary means of communications and distress alerting.
Two HF DSC stations operated by Kordia provide HF DSC distress alerting and follow-on communications on radiotelephony and Narrow Band Direct Printing (NBDP). The stations are located at Wiluna in WA, and Charleville in Qld, and are operated remotely from Canberra.
Any vessel fitted with appropriate HF DSC equipment can call into the HF DSC network.
The States and Northern Territory are responsible for marine safety communication services for recreational, fishing and other commercial vessels under States/Northern Territory jurisdiction.
The States and Northern Territory have implemented a network of 9 (nine) HF limited coast stations which monitor 4125, 6215, and 8291 kHz and broadcast navigation warnings on 8176 kHz and VHF Ch.67. These stations also monitor VHF channel 16 and may also monitor other marine frequencies.
There is no official MF or VHF DSC shore infrastructure in Australia. Vessels fitting MF and VHF DSC equipment should realise that this equipment can only be used for vessel – to – vessel alerting in the Australian region. There is no official shore-based MF or VHF DSC infrastructure, but there are a number of volunteer marine rescue (VMR) stations that have installed VHF DSC and a check with your local VMR should be made.
To download the brochure Digital Selective Calling - Frequently Asked Questions, click here.
Small craft proceeding overseas
It is recommended that smaller craft planning voyages overseas check the radio facilities offered along their route. Whilst large commercial vessels subject to the SOLAS Convention are required to keep a watch on channel 16 VHF when practicable, there may be a case to fit VHF DSC along with some form of long range communications such as Inmarsat-C. Compatibility with GMDSS services is strongly recommended. Details of GMDSS radio facilities offered around the world can be found in the Admiralty List of Radio Signals Volume V, published by the UK Hydrographic Office and available through most chart and publication shops.
MMSI application
A form is available for boat owners to fill in to apply for an Australian MMSI. To be eligible for issue of an Australian Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number you must have previously obtained an ACMA Maritime Ship Station licence number and callsign for an MF/HF transceiver and a Marine Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP), or a GMDSS General Operator's Certificate of Proficiency (GOCP). For a VHF only installation, the transceiver is covered by a Class licence but the minimum radio operator qualification required is a MROVCP.
Print application form
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If you are unable to download the above form, a hard copy can be faxed or posted to you. Please contact the database manager by email or by phone on 1800 406 406.