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Garmin® VHF/AIS Programming and Reprogramming Guide

Important:  Owner's manuals provide information on programming the MMSII, however, programming an MMSI number is prohibited in the USA for any person other than the manufacturer or the installing dealer on an AIS™ 600, 800, WatchMate® 850, Vesper® 6000 / 8000 and Cortex® Hub.  Personally inputting the MMSI on these devices is against federal regulation and is not recommended or supported by Garmin®.


The Mobile Marine Safety Identity (MMSI) number is a nine-digit code that identifies a vessel.  A MMSI number can be obtained from the telecommunications authority or ship registry for the specific country.  In the USA, a MMSI number can be obtained from these sources:

  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC): assignments are recognized internationally
  • BoatU.S.®, Sea Tow®, or United States Power Squadrons®: assignments are for USA waters only.

Note:  In the USA, it is prohibited under FCC regulations to enter incorrect or improper data.  It is a violation of the rules of the FCC to input an MMSI number that has not been properly assigned to the user, or to otherwise input any inaccurate data in the device.

DeviceInitial MMSI Programming Federally Allowed by OwnerClearing of MMSI Preformed by OwnerReprogrammable by OwnerProgrammable / Reprogrammable through an Authorized Garmin Service Center / Marine InstallerProgrammable / Reprogrammable through Garmin Customer Service Center
Garmin VHF 100 / 110 / 115 / 200 / 210 / 215 / 300 / 315 Marine Radio

Yes

Entering an MMSI Number Into a Garmin VHF Radio

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center¹, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

Yes³ YesYes¹
Garmin VHF 210 / 215 / 200 AIS Marine Radio

Yes

Changing the MMSI Number Already Programmed into a Garmin VHF or AIS

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center¹, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

Yes³ YesYes¹
Garmin AIS 600 Blackbox Transceiver

No

No

Requires Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

NoYesNo
Garmin AIS 800 Blackbox TransceiverNo

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

NoYesYes
AIS WatchMate 850 TransponderNo

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

NoYesNo
Vesper XB-6000 / 8000No

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

NoYesNo
Cortex Hub

No²

Remote Programming:  Cortex® MMSI Programming Form

No

Requires Garmin® Customer Service Center, Authorized Garmin® Service Center or Marine Installer

No²Yes

Yes

Cortex® MMSI Programming Form


¹ The Garmin® VHF 100, 200 and 300 Marine Radio and Garmin® VHF 300 AIS™ Marine Radio cannot be programmed through Garmin® Customer Service Center and must be sent/taken to a Garmin® Certified Service Center or Marine Installer for reprogramming

² The owner may manually install the .VSM file if there is not a green cloud status light on Cortex® Hub.  Cortex® Programming - Using a Vesper Secure Message File (.vsm)

³ This requires a clearing of the MMSI prior.  Once the MMSI is cleared a VHF can be programmed following the initial programming guide. 

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