Radio Regulations

Source: the Radio Regulations published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

All IBR Recommendations

As incorporated in RR-2008

This is not the text in force. It is the version of this Recommendation that RR-2008 gave treaty-binding force, kept so that the incorporated set can be read as it stood at each conference.

See the edition in force (RR-2024)
M

Recommendation ITU-R M.585-4

Mandatory (1982-1986-1990-2003-2007)

Assignment and use of maritime mobile service identities

View official text at ITU

Version history

Version evolution

The number in each cell (e.g. −9) is the Recommendation's revision number — the “-9” in ITU-R M.585-9, not a negative value. So −8 → −9 means the binding reference moved from the 8th to the 9th revision.

RR-2008 -4
RR-2012 -6
RR-2016 -7
RR-2020 -8
RR-2024 -9

Incorporated into the RR by

RR provisions, footnotes and Resolutions that incorporate this Recommendation

Bands and services are derived from the footnotes of the Radio Regulations as they stand, so they are shown only on the edition in force.

Scope

This Recommendation provides guidance to administrations for the assignment and conservation of maritime mobile service identities (MMSI). Formats for ship stations, coast stations, aircraft participating in search and rescue operations, aids to navigation, and craft associated with a parent ship are described as well as some limitations which constrain assignments for ships which utilize the satellite services of the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS). Guidance is provided for future mobile satellite systems and the reuse of decommissioned numbers.

Recommends

  1. that ships complying with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, and other ships equipped with automated radiocommunication systems, including Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), Digital Selective Calling (DSC), and/or carrying alerting devices of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) should be assigned maritime mobile service identities in accordance with Annexes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 to this Recommendation, as appropriate;
  2. that ship, coast stations, and aircraft participating in search and rescue operations using digital selective calling equipment in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.493 should use their 9-digit numerical identities transmitted as a 10-digit address/self-identity, normally with a digit 0 added at the end of the identity (see also Recommendation ITU-R M.1080);
  3. that ship, coast stations, and non-shipborne stations using AIS equipment in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R M.1371 should use their 9-digit numerical identities;
  4. for the purpose of ensuring compatibility with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, the numbers, names and addresses of ship earth stations participating in international telecommunication services should be made readily available to all authorized entities by the telecommunication service providers concerned;
  5. that the guidance given in Annex 6 to this Recommendation should be employed regarding the reuse of MMSI, particularly those with three trailing zeroes.

Source: ITU Radio Regulations, editions of 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024. The English, French and Spanish texts are each taken from the official edition in that language, not translated from one another. Sources and citation.