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Appendix B
HOW ARE MMSI ASSIGNMENTS OBTAINED?
Non-commercial users (e.g. recreational users who remain in domestic waters and only carry VHF,
EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons), and Radar) are not required to have a FCC
ship station license. The FCC and Coast Guard have authorized some second and third party vendors
to assign MMSI numbers. This service is limited to registering recreational vessels only. To receive
information on how to obtain a recreational MMSI number please contact: http://www.uscg.mil/
rescue21/links/mmsi.htm or http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/.
U.S Non-Federal User: Commercial users, or those who travel outside the U.S. or Canada, must
apply for a ship station license, or an amendment to a ship station license. To fi nd out if you require
a Ship Station license contact: http://wireless.fcc.gov/marine/fctsht14.html. If your vessel requires
licensing by the FCC you will obtain a MMSI during the application/licensing process when you fi le
FCC Forms 159 and 605.
U.S. Federal User: Federal users can obtain MMSI assignments from their agency radio spectrum
management offi ce. These procedures are currently under review by the NTIA (National Telecommuni-
cations and Information Administration).
Outside the U.S.: Users can obtain an MMSI assignment from their telecommunications authority
or ship registry, often by obtaining or amending their ship station license.
In Canada: Industry Canada is responsible for assigning MMSI numbers to commercial and
recreational vessels. Information is available at the following web site: http://apollo.ic.gc.ca/english/
mmsi.html.
For more information regarding MMSI’s visit: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/
mmsi.htm.
HOW CAN GARMIN HELP YOU WITH DSC?
To receive Distress Calls or Position Reports, the user must have a DSC-equipped chartplotter as well
as a VHF radio with DSC support. During normal, non-emergency Position Report communication,
Channel 70 (156.525 MHz) has been set aside as the VHF/DSC digital call channel. For a Distress Call,
a mariner presses the MayDay button on their VHF radio. The call transmits on an emergency channel
Digital Selective Calling (DSC)
182C Manual Part 2.indd 71 6/4/2003, 2:54:23 PM