VMS Installation & Activation Report for the Pacific Coa

Vessel Monitoring Systems
Installation and Activation Report
for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
This Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Installation and Activation report for the Pacific Coast
groundfish fishery is provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) pursuant to the
regulatory requirements of 50 C.F.R. 660.14(d). The vessel owner or operator must follow the
indicated procedures when installing or re‐installing a type‐approved VMS transceiver unit.
This VMS installation and Certification Report is applicable for the VMS transceiver units and
communications service providers currently approved for use in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery.
Type‐approved VMS units and communication service providers are posted on the NMFS West Coast
Region web site at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/enforcement#vessel-monitoring
Follow the steps for the particular transceiver unit selected by the vessel owner. The vessel owner is
responsible for all installation and activation costs. After the installation is complete and unit is
activated, the owner must mail, email, or fax the Installation and Activation Certification Report to
NMFS, Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), Northwest Division, 7600 Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA
98115‐6349. Fax (206) 526‐6528. Email [email protected].

INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION
Begin by consulting the “NOAA Fisheries Service Type-Approved VMS Units” list for VMS units approved
for Fisheries of the West Coast of the United States. This document lists type‐approved transceiver units
and communications service providers and is available on the NMFS OLE web site:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/enforcement/noaa-fisheries-type-approved-vms-units or from
NMFS OLE by calling (206) 526‐6135.
A VMS transceiver unit reimbursement opportunity may be available to fishing vessel owners and/or
operators that have purchased an approved VMS transceiver unit in order to comply with fishery
management regulations. To determine reimbursement eligibility, please review the information
available from the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission web site, at:
http://www.psmfc.org/program/vessel-monitoring-system-reimbursement-program-vms?pid=17/

VMS Installation and Activation Report – INSTRUCTIONS

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Purchasing, installing and activating a new VMS transceiver unit:
Step 1: Contact the entities identified as VMS Equipment Provider Contacts on the “NOAA Fisheries
Service Type-Approved VMS Units” list. Indicate to the providers that you will be using the VMS
transceiver unit for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery and you would like to obtain purchase and
installation information on the units they provide. Determine the transceiver unit and communications
service provider that best suits your needs. Select which satellite system to use for the fishing vessel’s
VMS.
Step 2: Install the VMS transceiver unit and antenna according to the installation instructions contained in
the manual supplied by the manufacturer, or contact a marine electronics specialist or dealer to install the
unit. In order to be eligible for VMS transceiver unit reimbursement, a vessel owner and/or operator must
have the VMS transceiver unit properly installed on the vessel by an authorized dealer or installer and
activated utilizing a type approved communications provider.
Step 3: Run the cable connecting the unit in the wheelhouse to the antenna mounted outside, through a
solid, immovable and permanent part of the vessel such as a bulkhead, deck, or console.
Step 4: Turn on the power to the vessel transceiver.
Step 5: Confirm by phone, with your communications service provider’s Customer Service that periodic
position reports are now automatically being sent to NOAA OLE.
Step 6: Once you transceiver unit is installed and activated and you have confirmed with your customer
service provider that the unit is operational, fill out the “VMS Installation and Certification Report” and mail
or fax it to NMFS.

VMS Installation and Activation Report – INSTRUCTIONS

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OMB Control No. 0648‐0573; Expires 6/30/2021

VMS INSTALLATION AND ACTIVATION CERTIFICATION REPORT
The vessel owner must sign this statement certifying compliance with the installation procedures
defined for VMS transceiver unit, then submit this certification to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, NMFS, Office for Law Enforcement (OLE), Northwest Division, 7600
Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115‐6349. Fax (206) 526‐6528. Email [email protected]. Before
participating in a fishery requiring VMS transmissions, you must obtain a confirmation from NMFS OLE
that the VMS transmissions are being received without error.
Vessel Name:
Documentation number:

Federal Groundfish Permit Number:

VMS Unit Manufacturer:

VMS Unit serial number:

INMARSAT Serial number (ISN):

INMARSAT mobile number (INM):

Is this VMS unit a primary or back‐up unit?

Primary

Back‐up

VMS Communications Service Provider:
(The information listed above should have been provided by the VMS unit manufacture)
Has the VMS Transceiver Unit you are registering been previously registered to
another vessel that operated in marine waters off the coast of Washington, Oregon
or California? Yes No
Note: Registering a VMS transceiver unit to more than one vessel at the same time is
prohibited. If this VMS Transceiver Unit was previously registered to another vessel that
operated in marine waters off the coast of Washington, Oregon or California, you must
submit with this activation report and proof of ownership of the VMS transceiver unit
or proof of service termination from the communication service provider.

Certification: In accordance with 50 C.F.R. 660.14(d), as the owner of a vessel participating in the Pacific
Coast Groundfish Fishery, I hereby certify that the VMS system on my vessel has been installed in
compliance with the applicable procedures and the manufactures instructions.
Vessel Owner Name: ___________________________________________________________________
Vessel Owner Signature: _______________________________________ Date: ____________________

PRA STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for the collection of information is estimated to average 4 hours per installation, including time for
reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining data needed, and completing and reviewing the information.
The burden for submission of this VMS Installation and Activation Certification Report is estimated at 5 minutes per response. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or suggestions for reducing this burden to: NMFS, Office of Law Enforcement, Northwest Division, 7600
Sandpoint Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115‐6349. The information collection described above is confidential under section 402 of the
Magnuson‐Stevens Act and under NOAA Administrative Order 216‐100, Protection of Confidential Fisheries Statistics.

VMS Installation and Activation Report – INSTRUCTIONS

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