MMO starts Nemo I-VMS installs after 92% sign-up
If you own an eligible fishing vessel, this is the point where policy turns into something practical. The Marine Management Organisation, or MMO, says more than 92% of eligible vessels were registered for a Nemo device by the 12 July 2026 deadline, and installations have now begun. **What this means:** for most owners who signed up on time, the next question is no longer whether you are in the scheme. It is when your device will be fitted, and what you need to do so your vessel stays within its licence conditions.
The immediate good news is that Nemo devices are being supplied and installed at no charge for eligible owners who registered by the deadline. MMO says many devices have already been sent out, and each one will come with a one-year warranty starting from the date it is installed. There is also a simple but important prep step. Once your installation date is confirmed, you should charge the device 48 hours before the appointment and make sure the green light is showing. Until then, the advice is to keep the unit safe in its original packaging. That may sound minor, but it is the kind of detail that can decide whether an appointment goes smoothly or has to be rearranged.
Installations are expected to continue over the next three months. MMO says vessel owners will be contacted by CLS UK, the contractor handling this part of the roll-out, and appointments are likely to be grouped regionally by port. The aim, according to CLS UK, is to work with industry and engineers in a way that keeps disruption as low as possible. For readers trying to work out the cost side, there is another detail worth slowing down for. Airtime contracts are not due to begin straight away. MMO says they will start after the installation period has been completed, and CLS UK is expected to contact owners before asking for payment. Sean Douglas, MMO's Head of Regulatory Assurance, also said MMO had been assured that any future rise in device or airtime prices would follow normal inflation-linked increases.
There is, though, a clear warning running through the update. If you miss an agreed installation appointment without giving enough notice to the supplier or engineer, you could face charges. MMO is also telling eligible owners who missed the 12 July 2026 deadline to contact its I-VMS team, but it is not promising that a free Nemo device will still be available. Owners who have not yet bought any I-VMS device are being told to act now. **Why that matters:** this is not just an admin exercise. If your vessel does not have a working device that meets the licence rules, you could leave yourself open to future enforcement action.
MMO's case for the system is about more than tracking for its own sake. It says I-VMS data helps it monitor where vessels are operating and supports fisheries management, future displacement compensation and what it calls a level playing field through regulatory assurance. Put more simply, the data is meant to help officials see what is happening at sea and apply the same rules across the fleet. Whether you agree with every part of that approach or not, it explains why the organisation is treating installation and data transmission as a compliance issue rather than an optional extra.
The part many owners are likely to find most confusing is the update on SC2 devices. MMO says SC2 units remain type-approved, but that does not settle the compliance question on its own. Your licence condition requires an I-VMS device to send data to the supplier so it can then be passed on to the UK VMS Hub. According to MMO, the UK VMS Hub has not received data transmissions from SC2 devices since 12 August 2025. That means an SC2 device may still hold type-approved status, but it will not let you comply with your licence condition in practice. **This is the distinction to remember:** approved is not the same as actually transmitting the required data.
Because of that, MMO is urging owners to think carefully before buying an SC2 device or continuing an airtime agreement with the supplier Succorfish. The advice is to read the terms of any contract closely and get independent advice if you are unsure before making a decision. If you need help, MMO says its dedicated helpline is 01900 508618, available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and the email address is ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk. For many owners, the practical checklist is now quite short: wait for CLS UK to contact you, keep your Nemo device stored safely, charge it 48 hours before installation, and do not assume an SC2 device keeps you compliant just because it is still type-approved.