Thanks David ,a very comprehensive comment and explanation regarding laws and regulations regarding the IMO. This is the kind of comment that I like to see on the site, worthwhile information from which one can learn.
Thanks David ,best regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

There must have been some misunderstanding by the sailing ship owner. More likely they were thinking about putting the vessel into Class, perhaps as a trading passenger vessel, which could indeed be very expensive, especially for an old vessel. An IMO number is just that - an ID number.

The requirements for "real" IMO numbers are set out by the IMO and are part of the SOLAS Convention. However, they only strictly apply to those vessels covered by that convention. Other vessels have an "IMO number", but they have no obligation to do anything with it (eg, paint it on the ship, use it in documents or AIS signals etc), though many do.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMO_number
http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/MSAS/Pages/IMO-identification-number-scheme.aspx

Hi Juergen, very interesting incident, and only 2 years ago happening in Europe, is there not any binding regulations or laws regarding the IMO.? The EU is bursting at the seams with laws and regulations and here is a case of "do what you want and what pleases you" attitude . ??!!??
regards and thanks
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Hello @Emmanuel.L
About 2 years ago an old sailing ship passed the Kiel Canal with a valid IMO for refitting and rebuilding on a Polish shipyard.
Some month later the ship came back without IMO.
I contacted the shipyard and they told me that thwey asked the owner before new classification about his IMO, but he refused because of the high cost.
I have photos on my HD but cannot remember the name of the ship now.
Rgds. Juergen

This string of comment re the ORKA II has generated a lot of worthwhile info re the IMO and MMSI from Juergen, David, Phil and Kyle. What is most interesting is the info from David that the application for an IMO number is for FREE.! In this capitalistic world of Dollars and Euros it is amazing ,some oversight from the authorities concerned? Let us hope we have not awaken a slumbering giant......
thanks and regards to all
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Google will only show it if a webpage that contains it has been crawled by Google. So it does now, as it indexes ShipSpotting.

This IMO number probably issued in mid-2014. For newbuildings, numbers are allocated by IHS (on behalf of IMO) at the first point that they become aware of a ship. More usually that is from the shipyard or class society, rather than an owner. For "late" allocations to existing ships, for which there are many reasons, it is on first knowledge by IHS of eligibility from a reliable source (I believe that they may not appear in IHS's online register unless there a minimum data-set, and of course some registers (eg Equasis) do not cover all ship types.

And, surprising as it may seem in this day and age, the application for and issuance of an IMO number is without any charge.

@Kyle
But I was wondering why this IMO is not to found in Google and as far as I know will an IMO only registered on request of the ship owner. The registration is very expensive.
Rgds. Juergen

Juergen,
IMO numbers are not based on the year of build, they're based upon when they are issued. If the ship either did not call in foreign ports, or was measured differently in the past, she may not have needed an IMO number until now.
A similar example is the tug BLARNEY (IMO 9068809), which was built in 1945 for the US Navy, was sold for civilian service in 1975, but apparently didn't merit an IMO number until c.1993.

Kind Regards, Kyle

I think the IMO beginning with 97 cannot be correct for this old ship built in 1979.

Rgds. Juergen

Yes David, I am looking forward to see her in new colours and Maltese registration, though she may retain her name or part of it (say only ODIN) only if there is not another vessel already bearing the same name on the register.
I will try to keep the site informed on her progress.
thanks and regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Thanks Miraflores your information is very helpful as ever.keep up the good work and thank you very much.
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

No doubt the hull, funnel etc will get a paint job and then the new Maltese name/port/fishery no. etc will appear. Then we'll probably get the restart of the AIS kit. As we cannot tell what the exact status of the vessel was on 5 Dec, it seems reasonable to leave her with the French name - but in any case all now linked by the IMO.

No doubt Emmanuiel will keep us all "in the picture".

Moved category as loa is 20.6m

@Emmanuel.L
When the ship has a french homeport (Bayonne) and has a french registration (Bayonne) it must have a french MMSI beginning with 226, 227, 228

Ship was last tracked on arrivel on 25. November with the MMSI 227897000

Rgds. Juergen

Thanks Phil, it is never too late to learn (at 72 learning every day) thanks for the insight.
regards and thanks
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

The MMSI numbers are different because one is a French MMSI and the other is a Maltese MMSI which has only just been allocated and may not yet be pinging on AIS.

Hi miraflores, you and davidships are both quoting different MMSI numbers, so the mystery deepens,anyone else cares to comment to unravel this mystery?
regards and thanks.
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Strange David, it isn't a big deal to add I to the name at the stern, if she has been renamed ORKA III and the port of registration must be changed also.
Thanks and regards
Emmanuel.L.(Malta)

Strange. It was painted "II" when last seen.
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=2234796

But probably in transition as it looks as if she has been sold to Malta-flag operators. The c/s 9HB5877 and MMSI 229000154 have been allocated at the beginning of the month to an "ORKA III" of 112gt (the same as ORKA II), in the ownership of Sunfish Shipping Ltd, Birkirkara.

Sunfish Shipping previously owned the fishing vessel SUNFISH (IMO just found), but that one hasn't been seen since early 2016.**
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/search.php?search_imo=7434767

** EU fishing registration closed 6/2016, and appears to have gone to Iran last year:
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:4163409/


One to watch, Emmanuel

In Valetta is a french Trawler ORKA II, MMSI 227897000
Callsign FPLI

http://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/fleet/index.cfm?method=Search.DetailSearchSimple&event_key=40747113&search_type=advanced&search_id=5781

Rgds. Juergen