Have you switched to 406? New legislation is now in place, meaning that vessels required to carry an EPIRB must now carry a registered 406 MHz EPIRB. What is an EPIRB? An EPIRB is a compact, buoyant, self-contained radio transmitter designed for marine use which, when activated, continuously emits a distinctive radio distress signal for a minimum of 48 hours. This signal is detected by satellite and relayed to a Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), instigating a search and rescue operation by local authorities.

Who is required to carry an EPIRB?

Commercial vessels being operated more than 3 nautical miles from a coast
and
Recreational vessels operating more than

• 5 nautical miles from shore in Gulf of St Vincent or Spencer Gulf
  or
• 3 nautical miles from shore in other State waters, except Lakes Alexandrina or Albert

are required to carry an approved EPIRB.

What are the legal requirements regarding distress beacons?

For an EPIRB to be an approved distress beacon for use in South Australian waters, it must be capable of transmitting on a frequency of 406 megahertz comply with AS/NZS 4280.1:2003:406 MHz satellite distress beacons - Marine emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) be currently registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (the picture on the right shows a beacon with the AMSA registration sticker attached) be located so that it is accessible if required but protected from accidental damage or loss and be maintained in good working order (including having a battery that is not past its expiry date). Please note that some Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) which meet AS/NZS 4280.2 are being marketed as EPIRBs. These beacons are not designed for marine use and do not meet the legal requirements for distress beacons. PLBs can be used as an additional safety measure, provided that the legal requirements have also been met. 406 MHz PLBs should also be registered with AMSA.

Registration of 406 MHz EPIRBs

Registration is free and can result in a more efficient search and rescue effort.
Each digital 406 MHz distress beacon transmits a unique code that identifies the beacon when it is activated. A registered 406 MHz beacon will allow the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's (AMSA) Rescue Coordination Centre to access the registration database and find contact details; details of registered vessels; and details of up to three nominated emergency contacts who may be contacted if a beacon is activated and contact cannot be made. These emergency contacts may be able to provide valuable information to the RCC that can assist with a more expedient rescue.

There is also the facility for owners to register trip itineraries so when a beacon is activated the RCC will have access to current movements and be better placed to organise a suitable response.

You can register your beacon online, or obtain forms to post, fax or email your registration details at http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/register_now.html . For more information, call 1800 406 406 during office hours.

Activating an EPIRB

Most EPIRBs will have instructions printed on them and you should be familiar with those instructions in case you are unfortunate enough to need to use it.

This device is designed to work best while floating in the water. Should you need to activate your EPIRB:

• take the device from its cradle
• raise the antenna
• activate the switch
• unravel the lanyard (cord) from the device and attach to the vessel, life-raft, or your PFD and
• throw the device into the water.

It should be attached to the vessel, life-raft or your PFD and allowed to drift away from you to let it work as it is designed to do.

An EPIRB should only be activated in situations where human life is in grave and imminent danger, and only after all other means of indicating distress, such as flares and radio, have been attempted.

You should keep a flare(s) available to aid searching boats/aircraft after an EPIRB is activated.

What if a distress beacon is accidentally activated?

Switch off the beacon and notify RCC Australia as soon as possible by calling 1800 641 792 to ensure a search and rescue operation is not commenced.

Disposing of 121.5MHz beacons

Unwanted beacons can be disposed of at no cost by placing them in collection bins in any of the Battery World stores around Australia. Check www.batteryworld.com.au for locations.

Volunteer Marine Rescue Squadrons around the state are also acting as collection points for unwanted beacons.

SA Sea Rescue Squadron Radio Room, Barcoo Road, West Beach
7:00 am to 6:00 pm daily

Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, Southern Myth Drive, North Haven
7:00 am to 6:00 pm weekends and public holidays

Whyalla Sea Rescue, Foreshore, Whyalla
8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily

For details of other squadrons, please visit the SA Volunteer Marine Rescue page at www.ses.sa.gov.au. Please contact the squadron prior to dropping off your beacon to make sure that there will be someone available to receive it. Beacons must not be left at an unattended squadron.

Who do I contact for more information?

More information regarding distress beacons and the switch to 406 is available from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, online at http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/ , via email at ausbeacon@amsa.gov.au or by calling 1800 406 406 during business hours.

AUSSAR’s 24 hour maritime emergency contact phone number is 1800 641 792.

EPIRBs - Safety Via Satellite

In a marine emergency, time is often a critical factor. The quicker an alarm is raised, the search area identified and a rescue co-ordinated, the more likely it is that those in distress will be safely rescued.

How the System Works

Once activated, the EPIRB transmits a radio distress signal on both the 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz frequencies. Beacons developed for the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system use digital technology that allows the beacon to transmit a unique code (HexID or UIN) that identifies the beacon.

The 406 MHz signal is picked up by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites which relay the distress signal to satellite receiving stations in Albany (WA), Bundaberg (QLD) and Wellington (NZ). Computers then analyse the EPIRB’s signal and calculate its position. An EPIRB location can generally be calculated to within a radius of 5km for a 406MHz beacon without GPS, or to within 120 metres if the beacon is GPS enabled.

Information about the distress signal is given to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra. If the beacon has been registered with AMSA, the RCC can identify the owner of the beacon, details about the vessel and emergency contact numbers. This can help them to identify false alarms or provide more details about the planned trip such as intended route/destination and number of people on board to give to searchers.

The RCC then passes on relevant information to the closest search and rescue group (in South Australia, this is SA Police), who co-ordinate a search and rescue operation using specially equipped aircraft and/or rescue boats which use the 121.5 MHz signal to home in on the source of the distress signal.