1  All identities that may be used for identifying ships in distress should be registered in
accordance with this resolution and the data should be updated whenever it changes.
2  Every State requiring or allowing the use of these GMDSS systems should make suitable
arrangements for ensuring registrations of these identities are made, maintained and enforced.
3 Those responsible for maintaining registration databases for GMDSS equipment should
ensure that any MRCC can immediately access the registration data at any time.
4 Means should be provided for the GMDSS equipment licensee, owner or the ship's master
to easily and expediently update emergency information in the registration database.
5 All databases for GMDSS equipment should have an identical data format to permit
immediate access among each other.
6 All equipment using Maritime Mobile Service Identities (MMSIs) should be registered, if
appropriate, with the International Telecommunications Union in accordance with established
procedures.
7 All Inmarsat equipment should be registered with Inmarsat.
8 Registration databases should include the following information, noting that the data
elements listed are not necessarily those maintained by the radio licensing authority and that not
all of the following entries need to be notified to the ITU as long as the national database is
identified and is accessible 24-hours per day:
- ship name;
- Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI);
- radio call sign;
- EPIRB identification code (if applicable) and its homing frequency;
- country (ship flag State; may be derived from MMSI and call sign);
- ship identification number (IMO number or national registration number);
- brief ship description (type, gross tonnage, ship superstructure, deck colours, identifying marks, etc.);
- name, address, telephone and (if applicable) telefax number of emergency contact
person ashore;
- alternative 24-hour emergency telephone number (alternate contact ashore);
- capacity for persons on board (passengers and crew);
- radio installations (Inmarsat-A, B, C, M, VHF DSC, etc.) for ship and survival
craft;
- identification numbers for all radio systems available;
- type and number of survival craft; and
- date of last modification of database record.
9  For 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs), the
country of registration should be coded in accordance with one of the following principles:
- if the registration database is maintained by the ship's flag State, use the Maritime
Identification Digits (MID) of the flag State;
- if the registration database is not maintained by the ship's flag State, use:
- the MID of the flag State, and inform all concerned where the unique database containing its registry of 406 MHz satellite EPIRBs is located; or
- serialized protocol with the MID of the country which is maintaining the
database.
10 The data record of ships to which SOLAS chapter IV applies should be reviewed, and the
database information should be updated annually. Other ships should be encouraged to update
their data records annually or at least every other year.
11 Authorities maintaining or using databases should ensure that information described in
paragraphs 8.4, 8.8, 8.9 and 8.12 above supplied for GMDSS equipment registration is used only
by appropriate recognized SAR authorities.
12 Every State should:
- maintain a suitable national database, or co-ordinate with other States of their
geographical area to maintain a joint database; and additionally,
- for ships which are using GMDSS frequencies and techniques or which are sailing
internationally, ensure that the data records of these ships are notified to an
international database (e.g. updated ITU database).
13 States should also:
- promulgate clear and timely guidance to manufacturers, agents and users on the
appropriate coding, registration and updating procedures;
- co-operate closely with other States, manufacturers, owners and organizations to
help resolve any registration or information-retrieval problems that may arise;
- formalize co-operative arrangements between the parties concerned for the
maintenance of the joint database;
- encourage manufacturers and distributors to advise customers, upon purchase of
GMDSS equipment, about registration requirements, and refer unresolved coding
and registration issues to proper national authorities for resolution; and
- encourage manufacturers and distributors to educate users about the maintenance
of GMDSS equipment.