Vessel Management System Hub Replacement

The following UK public sector bodies are authorised and enabled to use the contract:

Marine Management Organisation

Marine Scotland

DAERA

Welsh Government

DEFA - Isle of Man

The Contract is managed by the MMO on behalf of the fishing administrations, Marine Scotland (MS), DAERA - Northern Ireland, DEFA - Isle of Man and Welsh Government (WG).

The VMS Communications Hub receives position reports from electronic devices (VMS terminals) installed on fishing vessels. These reports are automatically submitted at regular intervals by either satellite or GPRS/ GSM communications channels and routed to the UK VMS Communications Hub by way of their respective device providers and communications services.

The VMS Communications Hub provides UKFAs (UK Fishing Authorities) with a platform on which positions of all fishing vessels over 12m in length which ensure that they are tracked while operating anywhere in the world. Positional data for UK fishing vessels operating within the fishing limits of OMS and 3rd countries is transmitted on receipt at the VMS

Communications Hub to those states, just as those states transmit the position reports for their vessels operating within the BFL. The VMS Hub is the UKFA Surveillance system. Reports are forwarded to UKFA systems for compliance, cross checks and assurances. The VMS Communications Hub, as well as acting as a repository of data and forwarding centre, also provides the UKFAs with a variety of tools for monitoring breaches of fisheries regulations.