Bob, No one can give you a definitie answer about how you will be treated upon arrival in any port anywhere in the world. It can and does vary.
Having dealt with bureaucracies for what seems like forever, the official answer you will get is simple: "You must comply with the law when you visit the Bahamas." It's the same in any country. How that is enforced is often up to the individual official - some are tougher than others; some have their favourite areas to look for, and; some are outright pigs. When I was at school, I was one of the physically big and capable kids. It was a policy to avoid the bullies who I stood up to and I was left alone by them. Occasionally I got asked to help out some kid who was being picked on. My advice was usually the same: "Why go where you know they'll be and get targetted? Don't give them a reason or opportunity to bully you." The same advice applies here regardless of how the last skipper you spoke to was treated in Nassau, Buenos Aires or Port Vila. Be suitably informed and obey their laws. It's not that difficult even if it costs a little more in the short term. It may save you big time on arrival. Hope that helps David On 16 January 2016 at 14:28, bobmor99 . via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > Thank you Rick for your detailed reply. > I think my question still boils down to whether a DSC All Ships Distress > Alert sent e.g. from Bahamian waters from a radio with a BoatUS-issued MMSI > would be treated equally as a boat with a (U.S.) federally issued MMSI. > --Bob M > Ox 33-1 > Jax, FL > > > On Fri, Jan 15, 2016 at 9:49 PM, Rick Brass via CnC-List < > cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: > >> The basic difference between an MMSI issued by Boat/US and one from the >> FCC is the availability of the data to search and rescue agencies. Boat/US >> share the database of boat description, emergency contacts, persons on >> board, cell phones aboard, etc. with the USCG. So if you make a distress >> call in US waters (or within range of the USCG) they look up your boat >> information, call your home and emergency contacts to make sure it is not a >> false alarm, call you back on the radio to identify your emergency and >> start the SAR process. >> >> >> >> If you are out of the area covered by USCG, the SAR agency that gets your >> DSC mayday call gets your MMSI and position, but does not have access to >> the other information you submit with your application. They know you’re >> out there, but they don’t know who they are looking for or what resources >> they might need. That could potentially impede the search. Also, the >> majority of mayday calls received by the USCG are false alarms or hoaxes. >> Not to disparage any 3rd world SAR agencies or imply that the response >> to a call will be less than efficient, but can’t you imagine the following: >> “Hey, jefe, there is some bozo sending a distress call, but I can’t tell >> who or what they are.” “Damn. There’s a storm out there and it’s probably a >> false alarm anyway. Send out Pablo in the morning to see if he can see >> what’s up.” >> >> >> >> Information associated with an MMSI issued by the FCC is shared not just >> with the USCG, but also internationally. >> >> >> >> If you are going to be out of US territorial waters you are legally >> supposed to have a Ship’s Station License issued by the FCC. Getting the >> license usually includes the MMSI number. You also need a Ship Station >> License if you are operating other equipment like AIS, radar, SSB or other >> HF radio, or an EPIRB. Boat/US says Canada does not enforce the licensing >> requirement. Don’t know whether it comes up when entering other countries, >> but not having all the appropriate paperwork and licenses when clearing >> into a country might be a cause for hassles, fees, and delays. >> >> >> >> *From:* CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] *On Behalf Of >> *bobmor99 >> . via CnC-List >> *Sent:* Friday, January 15, 2016 6:44 PM >> *To:* cnc-list@cnc-list.com >> *Cc:* bobmor99 . <bobmo...@gmail.com> >> *Subject:* Stus-List MMSI Number Assigning Authority (USA and Canada) >> >> >> >> Just read the nice BoatUS MMSI FAQ. >> https://www.boatus.com/mmsi/faq.asp >> >> As I understand it, both Canadian and US boaters have a choice for >> quick-easy-free MMSI number assignment (by Industry Canada or BoatUS) or a >> slower, not-free gov't issued MMSI number (which ends in a zero). >> >> Non-gov't issued MMSI numbers are only for use in Canadian or US waters. >> >> What would be the ramifications if I issued a DSC distress call from a >> radio with a BoatUS-supplied MMSI in, e.g., Bahamian waters? >> >> Would it go unnoticed? Would I be fined? Sorry to sound like a scofflaw, >> just trying to understand how the system works. >> >> Bob M >> >> Ox 33-1 >> >> Jax, FL >> >> _______________________________________________ >> >> Email address: >> CnC-List@cnc-list.com >> To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the >> bottom of page at: >> http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com >> >> >> > > _______________________________________________ > > Email address: > CnC-List@cnc-list.com > To change your list preferences, including unsubscribing -- go to the > bottom of page at: > http://cnc-list.com/mailman/listinfo/cnc-list_cnc-list.com > > >
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