Switch now to a 406 EPIRB. Its the Law!

by Bob Wonders on 30 Jun 2008 New laws come into effect today (July 1) requiring that all vessels of 8.0-metres or longer must carry the new 406MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon). The new digital 406MHz beacons allow rescue services to be alerted within seconds of a vessel’s location, details and emergency contacts.

With the old analogue system, it could take up to 90 minutes just to transmit a signal and in some cases it was up to five hours before rescue services were alerted.

The new digital system can determine the location of a vessel in distress within a 5 kilometre radius compared to a 20 kilometre radius under the analogue system.

Accuracy is increased even further, to an astonishing 120-metres, if the beacon is also fitted with a GPS.

From February 1, 2009, the 121.5MHz signal will no longer be picked up by the international satellite system.

To comply with the new requirements, boat owners must ensure their 406 MHz beacons are registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and carry the relevant safety sticker.

Each 406 MHz beacon registered to an individual person and their vessel carries a unique identification code, transmitted when the beacon is activated.

The unique code provides vital information about the registered boat and its owner, ensuring a faster and more effective search and rescue response appropriate to the vessel concerned.

Only a position was available to safety authorities with the old analogue system.

Between January and March (2208), 141 distress beacons were activated and 108 of those signals were inadvertent, malicious or the source could not be located, all of which wasted precious rescue resources.

It’s now history that in the 1998 Sydney to Hobart yachting classic that six sailors died, 55 were rescued and 66 boats were forced out of the race when multiple storms merged and hurricane force wind and wave decimated the fleet.

Most vessels were fitted with 121 beacons, but search and response could have been vastly superior had they been using 406 MHz beacons.

Operators of commercial vessels (Class A, B and C) working on offshore waters must also make the switch to 406 MHz under the new rules.

Boaters must switch to 406 MHz ahead of February, 2009 for safety’s sake.

Skippers of vessels 8.0-metres or larger are required by law to carry a distress beacon, as well as other safety equipment, such as a combination of distress flares, when operating at two or more nautical miles off the coast.

It is also recommended that all boats, large and small, heading offshore carry a distress beacon.

As an additional safety measure, it is also recommended that any skipper heading offshore use their marine radio to alert any volunteer marine radio network of their journey.

For further information, visit the website www.maritime.nsw.gov.au