EPIRB
INFORMATION
Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon
(EPIRB)
Types of EPIRBs
Emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRBs), devices which
cost from $200 to about $1500, are designed to save your life if
you get into trouble by alerting rescue authorities and indicating
your location. EPIRB types are described below:
- Class A
- 121.5/243 MHZ. Float-free, automatically-activating, detectable
by aircraft. Coverage is limited. These devices have been phased out by the
FCC and may no longer be used, marketed or sold in the U.S..
- Class B
- 121.5/243 MHZ. Manually activated version of Class A. These devices have been phased out by the
FCC and except for certain devices used as personal locator
beacons, may no longer be used, marketed or sold in the U.S..
- Class C
- VHF ch15/16. Manually activated, operates on maritime channels
only. These devices have long been phased out by the
FCC and may no longer be used, marketed or sold in the U.S..
- Class S
- 121.5/243 MHZ. Similar to Class B, except it floats, or is an
integral part of a survival craft. These devices have been phased out by the
FCC and may no longer be used, marketed or sold in the U.S..
- Category I
- 406/121.5 MHZ. Float-free, automatically activated EPIRB. Detectable
by satellite anywhere in the world. Recognized by GMDSS.
- Category II
- 406/121.5 MHZ. Similar to Category I, except is manually activated.
Some models are also water activated.
- Inmarsat E
- 1646 MHZ. Float-free, automatically activated EPIRB. Detectable
by Inmarsat geostationary satellite. Recognized by GMDSS. These devices have been phased out by
Inmarsat.
121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs
The International Cospas-Sarsat System ceased satellite
processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons on 1 February 2009.
Although Emergency Locator Transmitters used by aircraft may
still be used, alerts from these devices or from 121.5/243 MHz
EPIRBs will no longer be acted upon unless detected by an
overflying aircraft.
406 MHz EPIRBs
The 406 MHz EPIRB was designed to operate with satellites. The
signal frequency (406 MHz) has been designated internationally for
use only for distress. Other communications and interference, such
as on 121.5 MHz, is not allowed on this frequency. Its signal allows
a satellite local user terminal to accurately locate the EPIRB (much
more accurately -- 2 to 5 km vice 25 km -- than 121.5/243 MHz devices),
and identify the vessel (the signal is encoded with the vessel's
identity) anywhere in the world (there is no range limitation).
These devices are detectable not only by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites
which are polar orbiting, but also by geostationary GOES weather
satellites. EPIRBs detected by the GEOSTAR system, consisting of
GOES and other geostationary satellites, send rescue authorities
an instant alert, but without location information unless the EPIRB
is equipped with an integral GPS receiver. EPIRBs detected
by COSPAS-SARSAT (e.g. TIROS N) satellites provide rescue authorities
location of distress, but location and sometimes alerting may be
delayed as much as an hour or two. Although these EPIRBs also include a
low power 121.5
MHz homing signal, homing on the more powerful 406 MHz frequency
has proven to be a significant aid to search and rescue aircraft. These are the only
EPIRB types which can be sold in the United States.
A new type of 406 MHz EPIRB, having an integral GPS navigation
receiver, became available in 1998. This EPIRB will send accurate
location as well as identification information to rescue authorities
immediately upon activation through both geostationary (GEOSAR)
and polar orbiting satellites. These types of EPIRBs are the
best you can buy.
406 MHz emergency locating transmitters (ELTs) for aircraft are
also available. 406 MHz personnel locating beacons (PLBs) are
available.
The Coast Guard recommends you purchase a 406 MHz EPIRB, preferably
one with an integral GPS navigation receiver. A Cat I EPIRB should
be purchased if it can be installed properly.
406 MHz GEOSAR System
The major advantage of the 406 MHz low earth orbit system is the
provision of global Earth coverage using a limited number of polar-orbiting
satellite. Coverage is not continuous, however, and it may
take up to a couple of hours for an EPIRB alert to be received.
To overcome this limitation, COSPAS-SARSAT has 406 MHz EPIRB repeaters
aboard several
geostationary satellites.
Note that GEOSAR cannot detect 121.5 MHz alerts, nor can it route
unregistered 406 MHz alerts to a rescue authority. GEOSAR
cannot calculate the location of any alert it receives, unless the
beacon has an integral GPS receiver.
COSPAS-SARSAT is an international satellite-based search and rescue
system established by the U.S., Russia, Canada and France to locate
emergency radio beacons transmitting on the frequencies 121.5, 243
and 406 MHZ.
- COSPAS
- Space System for Search of Distress Vessels (a Russian acronym)
- SARSAT
- Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking
Testing EPIRBs
406 MHz EPIRBs can be tested through its self-test function, which
is an integral part of the device. 406 MHz EPIRBs can also
be tested inside a container designed to prevent its reception by
the satellite. Testing a 406 MHz EPIRB by allowing it to radiate
outside such a container is illegal.
Battery Replacement
406 MHz EPIRBs use a special type of lithium battery designed for
long-term low-power consumption operation. Batteries must be replaced
by the date indicated on the EPIRB label using the model specified
by the manufacturer. It should be replaced by a dealer approved
by the manufacturer. If the replacement battery is not the proper
type, the EPIRB will not operate for the duration specified in a
distress.
Registration of 406 MHz EPIRBs
Proper registration of your 406 MHz satellite emergency position-indicating
radio beacon (EPIRB) is intended to save your life, and is mandated
by Federal Communications Commission regulations. The Coast Guard
is enforcing this FCC registration rule.
Your life may be saved as a result of registered emergency information.
This information can be very helpful in confirming that a distress
situation exists, and in arranging appropriate rescue efforts. Also,
GOES, a geostationary National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
weather satellite system can pick up and relay an EPIRB distress
alert to the Coast Guard well before the international COSPAS-SARSAT
satellite can provide location information. If the EPIRB is properly
registered, the Coast Guard will be able to use the registration
information to immediately begin action on the case. If the EPIRB
is unregistered, a distress alert may take as much as two hours
longer to reach the Coast Guard over the international satellite
system. If an unregistered EPIRB transmission is abbreviated for
any reason, the satellite will be unable to determine the EPIRB's
location, and the Coast Guard will be unable to respond to the distress
alert. Unregistered EPIRBs have needlessly cost the lives of several
mariners since the satellite system became operational.
What happens to your registration form?
The registration sheet you fill out and send in is entered into
the U.S. 406 Beacon Registration Database maintained by NOAA/NESDIS.
If your EPIRB is activated, your registration information will be
sent automatically to the appropriate USCG SAR Rescue Coordination
Center (RCC) for response. One of the first things the RCC watchstanders
do is attempt to contact the owner/operator at the phone number
listed in the database to determine if the vessel is underway (thus
ruling out the possibility of a false alarm due to accidental activation
or EPIRB malfunction), the intended route of the vessel if underway,
the number of people on board, etc., from a family member. If there
is no answer at this number, or no information, the other numbers
listed in the database will be called to attempt to get the information
described above needed to assist the RCC in responding appropriately
to the EPIRB alert.
When RCC personnel contact the emergency phone numbers you provide,
they will have all the information you have provided on the registration
form. You should let these contacts know as much about your intended
voyage as possible (i.e., intended route, stops, area you normally
sail/fish/recreate, duration of trip, number of people going, etc.).
The more information these contacts have, the better prepared our
SAR personnel will be to react. The contacts can ask the RCC personnel
contacting them to be kept informed of any developments, if they
so desire.
Registration regulations
You may be fined for false activation of an unregistered EPIRB.
The U.S. Coast Guard routinely refers cases involving the non-distress
activation of an EPIRB (e.g., as a hoax, through gross negligence,
carelessness or improper storage and handling) to the Federal Communications
Commission. The FCC will prosecute cases based upon evidence provided
by the Coast Guard, and will issue warning letters or notices of
apparent liability for fines up to $10,000.
However, the Coast Guard has suspended forwarding non-distress
activations of properly registered 406 MHz EPIRBs to the FCC, unless
activation was due to hoax or gross negligence, since these search
and rescue cases are less costly to prosecute.
If you purchase a new or a used 406 MHz EPIRB, you MUST
register it with NOAA. If you change your boat, your address, or
your primary phone number, you MUST re-register
your EPIRB with NOAA. If you sell your EPIRB, make sure the purchaser
re-registers the EPIRB, or you may be called by the Coast Guard
if it later becomes activated.
An FCC ship station license is no longer required to purchase or
carry an EPIRB.
How to register
You may register by visiting the SARSAT
Beacon Registration page.
There is no charge for this service. IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.
For more information see the
NOAA SARSAT Homepage.
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