Maritime Glossary
Maritime Mobile Service Identity
Also known as: MMSI
A unique nine-digit number identifying a vessel in digital selective calling (DSC) and AIS communications.
Status: ActiveVerified: Source confidence: high (96%)
Full Definition
An MMSI begins with the country's three-digit Maritime Identification Digits (MID). MMSIs are transmitted automatically via DSC radio and AIS, enabling unique vessel identification in distress communications, VTS, and vessel-tracking databases. A vessel's MMSI is registered with the national administration and is encoded in the ship's EPIRB. Shore stations, coast guard vessels, and SAR aircraft also have MMSIs.
Domain Tags
navigationsafetyregulation