Photo by Leticia Golubov
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is urging eligible English fishermen to register promptly for replacement inshore vessel monitoring system (I-VMS) devices, as the roll-out moves into its next phase. Owners of under-12 metre English fishing vessels currently fitted with Succorfish SC2 devices will be able to register for a Nemo device supplied by CLS UK Ltd, formerly known as Fulcrum Maritime Systems, which will be provided and installed free of charge to those who register before 11.59pm on Sunday 12 July 2026.
The MMO will contact eligible vessel owners by letter and email with registration instructions. Once registered, devices will be posted to vessel owners and CLS UK Ltd will arrange installation through an approved engineer.
Sean Douglas, MMO Head of Regulatory Assurance, said: “We acknowledge that circumstances over the past few months have been challenging, and we are grateful for the patience shown by impacted fishermen. We will support those who have already secured an I-VMS device to comply with their licence condition by ensuring they have devices that transmit positional data to the UK VMS Hub. We have made every effort to streamline the process to reduce the financial and administrative impact on individuals who register by the deadline. I-VMS data is central to our understanding of what is happening in our inshore waters and England’s marine environment, and we are committed to moving forward with I-VMS for the benefit of both fishers and fisheries management.”
What vessel owners need to know
Fishermen currently operating SC2 devices are advised to check their contractual obligations with Succorfish regarding airtime, warranties and access to positional data. Crucially, existing devices must not be switched off or removed until the Nemo replacement has been installed. Disposal of old devices is the vessel owner’s responsibility and must be carried out safely, in line with MMO guidance, using certified WEEE recycling providers.
Vessels fishing in the Devon and Severn IFCA district are included in the roll-out and must register for a Nemo device to meet the licence condition for English waters. Those using Rewire devices in that district have been directed to contact the IFCA directly with any related queries.
Vessel owners who do not currently have any I-VMS device installed will need to meet the cost of purchase and installation themselves. The MMO has said it will notify these fishermen ahead of plans to resume enforcement of the I-VMS licence condition, but is advising them to act promptly rather than wait for that notice.
The MMO has stated its overall compliance and enforcement approach will remain measured and pragmatic during the transition. Eligible fishermen who believe they should receive a replacement device but do not receive a registration notice within ten days can contact the MMO’s I-VMS team at ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk or on 01900 508618, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.