When you receive a DSC alert, the MMSI of the transmitting
station will show on the screen of your DSC Controller.
If a received alert shows a MMSI starting with a whole number (1-9
inclusive) it is from a ship.
If the MMSI starts with 00 it is from a Coast Station.
(Note - you will never receive a DSC Alert from a Group ID!)Inmarsat ID
Different types of Inmarsat installation (Inmarsat A/B/C/M, etc.)
have their own unique Inmarsat ID for each vessel. Even on one vessel,
each Inmarsat-A etc. will have its own ID. Callers from shore need to
know the Inmarsat ID and satellite (Ocean Region) being monitored,
before they can place a call to a vessel. The Inmarsat ID is used to identify
individual vessels, for billing purposes, when calls are made from-ship.
Inmarsat-B, C and M Identities are normally derived from your vessel's
MMSI, e.g. MMSI 232999000; Inmarsat C = 423299910; Inmarsat-B
= 323299910.
The 'ITU List of Ship Stations' is intended to list all vessels by
name and includes their Radio Call sign, MMSI and other identities.
Updated information is included in supplements and is also available
over the world wide web (go to http://www.gmdss4all.net - find the 'related
sites' page and click on the MARS database).
The 'ITU List of Callsigns and Numerical Identities' lists radio
call signs, MMSIs and other identities, to let you fmd the name of a vessel!
coast station when you know the radio callsign or numerical identity.
If you want to find the MMSI of a Coast Station/MRCC providing
a GMDSS Distress and Safety Service, look in ALRS Vol. 5 (VHF DSC,
MF DSC and HF DSC list of Coast Stations for Sea Areas AI, A2 and
A3/A4).
If you want to find the MMSI of a Coast Station using DSC for
Public Correspondence services look in ALRS Vol. 1 (Coast Radio
Stations).
The process for allocating MMSIs is likely to change from that
explained above - to cater for the large number of non-SOLAS
vessels expected to fit DSC equipment.
MARINE COMMUNICATIONS 231