Module 1 - Licensing & SRC Exam
Admin Details That Matter In Emergencies
What you will learn
Run a pre-departure identity check that catches mismatched MMSI, call sign, owner, equipment and emergency-contact records before they weaken a distress response.
Licensing data becomes operational during an alert. A DSC transmission is most useful when its programmed identity, the licence record and the vessel's real details all agree.
Ofcom shares ship call-sign, MMSI and licence information with the MCA and ITU so authorities can interpret radio traffic and contact the right people. Duplicate or stale records can slow that process. The radio display is only one piece of evidence; compare it with the current licence and the vessel.
When ownership or equipment changes, amend the licence and arrange any necessary equipment reprogramming through an appropriate service route. Do not guess an MMSI, copy one from another vessel or assume a second-hand set has been cleared correctly.
Keep a clear identity prompt near the set with vessel name, call sign, MMSI and a usable position format. That prompt supports a stressed operator, but it does not replace the required documents, current licence record, navigational position check or proper training.
| Pre-departure evidence | Compare it with | Stop trigger |
|---|---|---|
| Radio-displayed MMSI | Current licence and vessel identity | Mismatch or unexplained blank |
| Call sign and vessel name | Licence and near-radio prompt | Old owner or different vessel |
| Equipment list | Installed, portable and safety transmitters | Undeclared or moved DSC equipment |
| Emergency contact | Current reachable shore contact | Stale or unavailable person |
| Operator documents | Crew role and planned supervision | No qualified or directly supervising routine controller |
Stop a false identity before departure
The licence shows one MMSI, the fixed DSC set shows another and the handheld has a third identity. The crew is due to sail in one hour.
1. Hold the affected DSC equipment
Do not transmit a test or assume the nearest-looking identity is correct.
2. Trace each identity
Match the fixed set to the named vessel licence and the handheld to the exact ship or portable licensing arrangement.
3. Correct through the proper route
Amend the licence and use an authorised dealer or manufacturer process where protected programming must change.
4. Brief the fallback
Until corrected, state what working equipment and non-DSC emergency options remain and whether departure should be delayed.
Sense check: Three functioning transmitters with three unexplained identities are not three independent safety layers.
Common mistake or limitation
- Pressing a distress or test control to discover which identity reaches the Coastguard.
- Treating a displayed MMSI as self-validating without comparing the licence and vessel.
- Keeping an old owner's emergency contact because the vessel name has not changed.
Recap
- Match vessel, licence, programmed MMSI, call sign and declared equipment.
- Update ownership, contact and equipment details when they change.
- Use simulators or authorised test procedures, never a live distress alert for practice.
- A near-radio identity card supports recall but does not replace source records or operator competence.
Optional quick check
Section 7 of 9
The fixed DSC radio's MMSI does not match the current licence. What is the safest pre-departure response?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 31 August 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
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