I’m diving outside the US, what are the regulations surrounding MMSI numbers there?

[Nautilus Lifeline]

If you are going to be diving from a vessel, you can actually use the MMSI number of the vessel for the purposes of your dives. Alternatively, you may use a registered MMSI number from Boat US. Please check Nautilus Lifeline Support MMSI for more details and instructions.

Or reply with any specific questions that you may have.

Safe diving!

The Nautilus Lifeline team.

 

[Griffo]

Hi,
I've tried to read up and understand the practicality of using one of your devices in Australia, but I just get lost trying to determine whether it would either work or be legal. I thought you might understand the situation better?

I think I need to go and get a license to use it
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI)


Thanks

 

[Nautilus Lifeline]

Hello OzGriffo, thank you for your post.

Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) is the necessary certification in Australia for our class of device to our understanding. Regulations surrounding our device are changing globally to embrace the innovation of the Lifeline and ensure that it is more user-friendly to activate the Red Button around the world. There has been a recent development with the ITU which may free things up.

In the meantime, utilizing the MMSI number of a parent vessel is common practice and standard procedure for many vessels around the world. This is a possibility for the Lifeline depending on your region, so I would recommend checking with your local authority about this.

Keep in mind that 99% of the time, the VHF functionality of the Lifeline is more than enough to prevent a long drift or get you picked up.

I hope this offers some insight, OzGriffo. Thanks again.

The Nautilus Lifeline Team

 

[lloyd_borrett]

G'day,

It's true that you legally have to have a Marine Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency (MROCP) to use a Nautilus Lifeline in Australia. But few boat owners and even fewer divers bother to do the course and pay the money to get one, as I have done. But in a true emergency non-one would question an unlicenced person using the VHF radio anyway.

I personally have my dive boat's EPIRB registed, plus my portable personal EPIRB known to the authorities. My boat's VHF radio is also registered with the authorities and assigned a MMSI number.

When I registered my Nautilus Lifeline with them, and explained the device to them, they gave me a different MMSI number for it. I guess that makes sense as I will be using the device from other boats and in different states and countries.

Best regards, Lloyd Borrett.

 

[amoses]

Hi Nautilus,
I don't get the whole MMSI thing. If I get an MMSI # in the US from boatus.com then will my lifeline work anywhere in the world? Or do I have to put in different MMSI #rs where ever I go? I dive in Texas where I live, but I also dive in Cozumel, the Bahamas, Roatan, Belize, Bonaire, etc. Does it work all of these places off of the one MMSI #? I apologize if this is elementary, but I could not find a good explanation on the website or in any forum.

Thanks.

 

[Nautilus Lifeline]

Hi amoses, thank you for your question.

If you have acquired an MMSI number and entered it into your lifeline, it will make your lifeline fully functional anywhere in the world.

Entering the MMSI number into your lifeline enables the distress feature which is used with the red button.

Please let us know if you need any further information.

Thanks,
Lifeline Team

 

[amoses]

Hi amoses, thank you for your question.

If you have acquired an MMSI number and entered it into your lifeline, it will make your lifeline fully functional anywhere in the world.

Entering the MMSI number into your lifeline enables the distress feature which is used with the red button.

Please let us know if you need any further information.

Thanks,
Lifeline Team

Okay, thank you. That makes sense to me. But I was reading where other people were talking about getting different MMSI #rs for different parts of the world, not sure why they would do that. Thanks for clearing it up for me.