Background
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) operates a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to ensure effective monitoring and compliance across the Convention Area. Mobile Transceiver Units (MTUs) and Automatic Location Communicators (ALCs), automatically transmit vessel position data to the Secretariat. MTU deactivation is required when a vessel is no longer on the FFA Good Standing List, is being delisted due to reflagging, is sunk or scrapped, or when there is voluntary relinquishment by the Flag State. In such cases, Flag CCM submits a deactivation request through the Record of Fishing Vessels (RFV) online system. Upon receipt of the request, the Secretariat verifies the vessel and MTU details, liaises with the relevant service provider to confirm deactivation, and records the action in accordance with CMM 2014-02 and the VMS Standards, Specifications and Procedures (CMM VMS SSPs).
The process is considered complete once the RFV MTU status is updated to “Inactive,” confirming that the deactivation has been successfully implemented.
Step 1: When a CCM needs to deactivate a MTU they first browse for the vessel on the Record of Fishing Vessels:
Step 2: Open the vessel record and scroll down to the MTU Details Tab and click on
.
Step 3: Click on 
..
Step 4: At the bottom click on the dropdown menu under “Change to” as shown below. You will be able to see the dropdown list. Once you assign the status in this case Deactivation Requested by CCM then click on
.
When you click Save, the status is changed to as shown in red below “Deactivation Requested by CCM”. Once a CCM submits an MTU deactivation request, the WCPFC Secretariat will review and process the request. Upon successful deactivation, the Secretariat will notify the CCM. For any queries or deactivation confirmation CCMs should contact the VMO team at vms@wcpfc.int.
