EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and PLB (Personal Locator Beacons) are a quick and effective way to alert emergency services of your maritime distress. A locator beacon allows Search and Rescue (SAR) agencies to react with speed and accuracy to identify and locate a person, or vessel, in an emergency situation.
Why You Need An EPIRB
An EPIRB may be your only hope of surviving an accident at sea. Your EPIRB will be your sole method of communication to SAR agencies if your vessel loses it’s VHF communications system in the event of dismasting, sinking, or an electrical failure. It works worldwide – inshore, offshore, or on waterways.
“An EPIRB does not rely on there being a vessel within VHF range to hear your Mayday call, nor does it rely on somebody spotting your flares; it simply relies on the beacon being activated and functioning correctly.” – Royal Yachting Association
The RYA recommends that small pleasure craft that occasionally cruise outside of VHF range should still carry a beacon. An EPIRB an essential piece of equipment for all vessels that regularly go outside of dependable VHF range. Similar to satellite phones, there are companies who hire out EPIRBs, if the cost is prohibitive for cruisers who occasionally wish to go further afield.
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), aims to be a complete marine global distress and communications system. It includes EPIRBs, as well as satellite communications, NAVTEX and Digital Selective Calling.
How EPIRB Work
EPIRB have either automatic or manual fixing brackets. Automatic brackets release the EPIRB from its housing as the vessel is sinking. When it comes into contact with salt water, it starts to transmit an emergency signal without your intervention. You have to physically remove an EPIRB from a manual bracket before it will initiate an emergency signal.
When positioning an EPIRB you need to consider whether it is manual or automatic. Locate a manual one somewhere easily accessible – for example, inside a grab bag or clipped on the bulkhead. Make sure to prevent it from getting wet, stolen, damaged or knocked overboard. An automatic EPIRB needs to be located somewhere it can freely release.
Why Choose A PLB?
A 406MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is basically a personal EPIRB. An EPIRB is registered to a vessel, whereas a PLB is registered to an individual. PLBs are always manually activated, and can be worn around the neck or stored in a pocket. Manufacturers make them with or without GPS, and, once activated, they send the same signal as an EPIRB to SAR authorities. GPS shortens the time it takes to alert the emergency services. PLBs have a battery life of around 24 hours – much shorter than that of an EPIRB.
You can use PLB offshore, and they are a popular choice for users of personal watercraft, RIBs or smaller boats closer to home. They are beneficial for a person to have if a vessel sinks rapidly or in the event of a man overboard.
If you find yourself choosing between these two types of locator beacon, there are some key factors to consider:
- The size of the vessel and the type of activity
- The size of the equipment and how it will be stowed/carried
- If it has integral GPS
- The battery life
- The temperature range it operates in
- Manual or automatic
EPIRB & PLB Distress Alerts
Dual frequency EPIRBs and PLBs operate by transmitting a distress alert on 406MHz. This advises SAR agencies of a maritime incident. Once SAR are closer to the casualty or vessel, they will use the 121.5MHz frequency as a pinpoint homing frequency.
The frequency band from 406.0 – 406.1MHz is reserved for the exclusive use of distress beacons operating with satellite systems. It works as follows:
- The signal the beacon emits is detected by satellites in the COSPAS-SARSAT International Satellite System for Search and Rescue.
- Ground receiving stations receive and process the satellite signal and generate the distress alerts.
- The distress alerts are sent to a Mission Control Centre and relayed to the relevant SAR agency.
- The signal transmitted by beacon includes a digital message. It sends important data, such as the unique identifier for the beacon that transmitted the alert. If the beacon has integral GPS, it will also include the position. If doesn’t have GPS, the beacon’s signal will need to be detected by two or three satellites before a position can be estimated.
- The unique identifier links the beacon to the information held by the relevant Beacon Registry about the vessel or person. It supplies important information to the SAR centre, enabling them to make critical decisions on the type of response needed, whether it is a vessel or an individual. For example, the response for a 5,000 person capacity cruise ship would be different from a small fishing vessel.
Legal Requirements for locator beacons in the UK
It is mandatory to register 406 MHz beacons (EPIRB or PLB) with the HM Coastguard, under the Merchant Shipping Regulations 2000 (EPIRB Registration). You must register any changes to this information. It is an offence by the owner not to follow these requirements. Full details of your obligations can be found in MSN 1816.
Your EPIRB or PLB is licensed on your Ship Radio Licence and registered with the UK Beacon Registry. New beacon registrations and updates to registrations can both be completed online. Registrations and updates are free in the UK.