121.5 Epirbs to be terminated.

by Varosha Lamb, on 7 Apr 2001 The decision by the international Cospas-Sarsat Program to terminate satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5/243 MHz beacons (PLBs, EPIRBs & ELTs) from 2009 has been welcomed by Pains Wessex/McMurdo, one of the world's leading manufacturers of EPIRBs.

The company says that this decision means mariners, aviators and individuals using emergency beacons will need to switch to those operating at 406 MHz if they want to be detected by satellites.

Users of 121.5/243 MHz beacons will be able to continue to use these products after 2009, but only for localised rescue alerting to over flying aircraft, nearby receivers and direction finders.

Chris Hoffman, Technical Director at McMurdo said, 'The Cospas-Sarsat system has already saved more than 11,000 lives. The ability to concentrate on 406 MHz signals will dramatically reduce the number of false alerts that Search And Rescue forces receive, thereby allowing them to concentrate their assets on real emergencies and save even more lives.'

In recent years companies such as McMurdo and sister company Pains Wessex have made massive technological developments, which have resulted in 121.5 MHz technology being superseded by 406 MHz. This includes newly developed personal location beacons such as 406 MHz Fastfind and Fastfind Plus with built-in GPS, which provide a three minute alert time and 30 metre position pinpoint.

Currently 121.5/243 MHz beacons generate a 98% false alert rate. This is due to a higher number of interference sources that look like 121.5 distress signals, as well as the inability to carry a unique vessel ID code, which can be included in 406 MHz beacons.

In addition, new GPS EPIRBs, such as the Pains Wessex SOS Precision now also provide GPS latitude and longitude co-ordinates, thus pinpointing the beacon's position as well as providing regular position updates from the built-in GPS receiver to the search and rescue authorities.

The decision to terminate 121.5/243 MHz satellite processing is backed up by a recent report of a hazardous but successful rescue of the 34 crew members of the Sea Breeze I, a 600 foot cruise ship. Four days after the vessel sank, a 121.5 MHz satellite distress signal was picked up and passed to the Rescue Coordination Centre. A fixed wing aircraft was sent to the approximate beacon position and spotted strobes, but could not see any survivors so dropped a liferaft in the vicinity. A helicopter also investigated the area and a 270 foot USCG cutter was diverted to the scene.

At this stage, debris was seen to be marked as that belonging to the Sea Breeze I, the case was suspended and all USCG assets were released. 'Had the EPIRB signal been of the registered 406 MHz variety, the Rescue Coordination Centre would have know the signal was from the Sea Breeze I and, knowing that the vessel had sunk four days previous and all crew were accounted for, would not have had to launch any USCG assets,' said Paul Steward of the US Coast Guard.

With nearly eight years period of notification of the termination of the 121.5/243 MHz signal processing, users will be forewarned to switch to the new 406 MHz products and thus benefit from faster and more accurate rescues in an emergency. Currently both leisure and commercial users are selecting the new GPS EPIRBs from choice, even though these are not yet a specified requirement.

Ellen MacArthur, who recently became the fastest and youngest woman to sail around the world in the gruelling Vendee Globe chose to carry the higher specification Pains Wessex SOS Precision 406 GPS EPIRB on board Kingfisher. She said 'You plan for the worst by fitting the best safety products available on board and hope you'll never need to use them. But if you did, the knowledge that the SOS Precision 406 GPS EPIRB transmits within three minutes and provides position details to within 30 metres to the search and rescue services assures you of rapid assistance in an emergency, anywhere in the world.'

Further information regarding the full range of marine safety equipment is available from Pains-Wessex Marine Sales Department, McMurdo Ltd, Rodney Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 8SG, Tel +44 2392 775044 or Fax +44 2392 819087 or visit the web site at www.pwss.com

Pains-Wessex and McMurdo are subsidiaries of the Chemring Group PLC.