Bulletin 033 – Radio Accounting Authority (RAA), Point of Service Activation (PSA), MMSI and Call Sign Rev. 2.0

1. References

a) International Telecommunication Union Convention (ITU Convention);
b) ITU-T Recommendation D.90 (ITU D.90);
c) Form 144 – Application for Radio Accounting Authority Acting on Behalf of Barbados;
d) Maritime Service Activation Registration Form (SARF);
e) Maritime mobile Access and Retrieval System (MARS).

2. Purpose

2.1 This Bulletin explains:

.1 the radio message accounting procedures required by Barbados Maritime Ship Registry (BMSR) and the lists of the Radio Accounting Authorities (RAAs) approved by the BMSR.

.2 the procedures required by the Point of Service Activation (PSA) to activate, deactivate, and update information regarding Inmarsat Mobile Earth Stations (MESs) on Barbadian vessels;

.3 the procedures to obtain Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) numbers and Call Signs for Barbadian vessels.

3. Application

3.1 This Bulletin applies to all Barbadian vessels:

.1 Equipped with a Radio Ship Station;

.2 Installed, or will be, with an Inmarsat MESs.

4. RAA Requirements

4.1 The ITU Convention currently in force provides for RAAs to settle maritime radiocommunication accounts for ships licensed by the BMSR.

4.2 Due to the many problems occurring in international radio maritime accounting, no ship is entitled to be registered or to maintain registration under the Barbados flag unless the owner shall have entered into a valid contract with an authorized radio service company pursuant to the terms of which the latter assumes the accounting obligation and may assume responsibility for obtaining the vessel’s Radio Ship Station License (SSL).

4.3 It is mandatory that all international maritime radio traffic charges for radiocommunications from ship to shore, both terrestrial and satellite, shall be settled by the approved RAA pursuant to the contract with the owner of the vessel.

4.4 Application for RAA on behalf of the BMSR shall be submitted with Form 144, which is to be sent to registry@barbadosmaritime.com.

4.5 The ITU D.90 limits the number of RAAs based in other countries that the BMSR may recognize to 25. The RAAs approved by the BMSR are listed in section 4 below.

4.6 The RAA shall notify the BMSR of the vessels for which it has assumed full responsibility for the payment of the radiocommunication incurred through its maritime mobile station, ensuring, as required by the ITU Convention, that these payments are made in accordance with the ITU D.90 and will not accrue to the account of the Barbados Government. It is imperative that all radio traffic charges be sent to the RAA only and not to any third party.

5. List of RAAs

5.1 AAIC, means Accounting Authority Identification Code.

5.2 The Barbados RAAs Particulars can be retrieved on MARS by selecting Administration “BRB – Barbados” and pressing “submit query”.

5.3 Barbados does not approve any more RRAs.

6. PSA Requirements

6.1 Inmarsat is the internationally recognized body that sets the rules and oversees “service activation” or formal registration/re-registration of MES for all vessels. Deactivation and re-registration/activation of equipment must take place when a vessel changes Flag, changes owner or when changes occur with the equipment. In order to effect the change, the terminals must first be deactivated by the former PSA that activated the equipment.

6.2 A PSA is an entity authorized by Inmarsat to accept and process for Barbadian vessels applications for MES service activation, assign Inmarsat Mobile Numbers and transmit customer service activation information to the Inmarsat Customer Activation group.

6.3 In many cases, the PSA will also be the RAA or Inmarsat Service Provider (ISP) for the terminal, and works directly with the customer on service activation, in particular, and Inmarsat systems and services in general.

6.4 Any enquiries related to commissioning or decommissioning of Inmarsat terminals should be addressed to the PSA or Inmarsat.

6.5 To obtain the authorisation to activate the MES, the SARF, which is to be completed and signed by the owner of the MES who will ultimately be responsible for the payment of traffic charges incurred by the MES, is to be submitted either directly to the PSA or to the ISP. If applying for more than one MES, the customer must prepare separate SARFs for each MES to be activated. For further information on PSAs and ISPs please contact the Inmarsat Global Customer Support at the following address:

Inmarsat Global Customer Support
Inmarsat Global Limited
99 City Road
London EC1Y 1AX,
United Kingdom

Telephone +44 207 728 1020/1777
Email address: globalcustomersupport@inmarsat.com

6.6 It is imperative that this procedure be understood and followed by the PSA, shipowner, and ship operator so that registration/deregistration of systems may be quickly accomplished for Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) compliance.

6.7 PSA shall inform the BMSR of all additions, deletions, and modifications to BMSR MESs as quickly as possible with a change of flag by email to registry@barbadosmaritime.com.

6.8 The PSAs authorised by Inmarsat can be obtained by contacting Inmarsat Global Customer Support above.

7. MMSI numbers and Call Signs

7.1 A MMSI is effectively an international maritime telephone number issued by the BMSR.

7.2 The BMSR continues to allocate MMSI numbers and Call Signs to Barbados vessels on behalf of the Barbados Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology (MIST).

7.3 The Call Signs are allocated based on the guidelines of the ITU Convention – Radio Regulations Article 19.54 -19.56. The BMSR assigns Call Signs with two digits and 3 letters in the order: digit – letter- letter – letter – digit

7.4 Any enquiries related to MMSI numbers should be addressed to the BMSR registration department at registry@barbadosmaritime.com.