New MMSI formats
The International Telecommunications Union is about to release a new
version of Recommendation M583, which defines construction of MMSI
(Maritime Mobile Service Identities - identification numbers used for GMDSS DSC systems).
The major changes introduced are:
A new format of MMSI for SAR aircraft.
SAR aircraft fitted with DSC will use MMSI's with the block 111 as the leading three characters,
followed by the country MID and then three numerals to indicate the
individual aircraft - e.g. an Australian SAR aircraft would have an
MMSI of:
111503123
A new format for aids to navigation at sea - used in AIS systems.
Aids to navigation at sea (light ships, etc) will have MMSI's with 99
as the leading digits, followed by the country MID and then 4 digits.