EPIRB guidance

What is an Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)? An EPIRB is a radio transmitter device designed to operate in conjunction with the Cospas-Sarsat international satellite search and rescue system. The main frequencies that get transmitted from the EPIRB is 406MHz and 121.5MHz. The 406 frequency is to initiate communication with satellites and the 121.5 is a homing in frequency used by rescue authorities. EPIRB is a unit that is designed for the use in the maritime environment. There are alternate units for aviation (Emergency Locator Transmitter) and personal use (Personal Locator Beacon). How does an EPIRB work? When an EPIRB is activated, it transmits a 406MHz frequency signal that can be detected by satellites. This signal is received by 3 different constellations of satellites that operate at various heights above the earth’s surface. These constellations are known as LEOSAR, MEOSAR and GEOSAR. The MEOSAR constellation is a new series of satellites that should be in full operation by 2019. Once these satellites have received the signal, they will then transmit the signal to the closest Local User Terminal (LUT). The LUT will then process the signal to generate an emergency distress with the location from where the distress has originated. This distress alert is then sent to a Mission Control Centre (MCC). Once the MCC receives the message, the information is processed further and to get the details of the beacon, so that any emergency contact details can be retrieved. The MCC will then relay the message to the appropriate Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC). The RCC will then alert the response teams required for the type of rescue effort needed. What Types of EPIRB’s are available? there are various types of EPIRB’s available on the market today. There are Category 1, 2 and 3 EPIRB’s available, each designed to meet a certain type of requirement. Some beacons are for manual deployment and activation only, these are called Category 2 devices. With an automatic release housing, they are Category 1 types. Some beacons require more than just a push of a button once activated. Some require an antenna to be pulled out. This should not be a requirement in a time of distress. Just pushing a button should be enough. What is the difference between the various Class of EPIRB’s? Class 1 EPIRB’s are designed to withstand temperatures as low as -40ºC. these EPIRB’s will be used by vessels that operate in the polar regions. Class 2 EPIRB’s are designed to operate in temperatures only down to -20ºC. This is the most common type of EPIRB and sold most around the world. “Category 3” EPIRB’s will offer the same range as the Class 2 EPIRB, however they do not have automatic activation features, like sea water contacts. These units will need to be activated manual. Category 3 EPIRB’s are generally sold in the Australian/New Zealand Leisure markets. How can an EPIRB be registered? When purchasing a new EPIRB, it will be the responsibility of the new owner/operator to register the beacon with the relevant authorities. The beacon should be registered with the national authority associated with the country code in the hexadecimal identification (15 Hex ID) of the beacon. It can be also registered online with the Cospas-Sarsat International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) if the relevant country does not provide a registration facility and the country has allowed direct registration in the IBRD. To get more information on how and where to register the beacon, the first place to start is to consult the Beacon Registration Contact Information on the Cospas-Sarsat website. If no information on the country where the unit is registered, then go online @ www.406registertion.com. Registration with Cospas-Sarsat can only be accepted via the online facilities provided by the IBRD at www.406registration.com. Updating information, how can this be done? Updating the information of the EPIRB can be done online @ www.406registration.com. this can also be done by contacting the authority of where the beacon has been registered. Updating of information on the EPIRB should be done every two years. What is a Hex ID, and where can it be found? A Hex ID is a unique 15 hexadecimal identification number that is assigned to the beacon when programmed. The rescue authorities can use this number to access vital information about the EPIRB owner and emergency contact details. Getting this information will help the local rescue authorities in making the right decisions pertaining to a distress alert. This number will be found on the EPIRB via a label that is affixed on the unit. This needs to be checked before the EPIRB is accepted from the dealer where the unit is purchased. How can proof of registration be obtained? Once a registration has been sent in via either a local authority or via the Cospas-Sarsat registration website provided above, there should be notification of this registration completion. Via the Cospas-Sarsat system, there will be an email notification there to, if a valid email address has been provided. With regards to local authorities, this will need to be confirmed as to how confirmations are dealt with. Please don’t take it for granted that the beacon has been registered if the forms have been submitted. If no notifications there to has not been received, please make the effort to follow up. How long is registered information valid in the IBRD? As mentioned previously, please make sure to confirm registration information every two years. If there has been any change within this period, it is best to update as the change occurs. If beacons have not been updated or confirmed for 10 years, these will be removed from the database. Is Registering an EPIRB important, YES! If the beacon is not registered with either the relevant authorities or Cospas-Sarsat, this could lead to delays in getting information to rescue centres. This is because if the nature of the distress is not really known, then delays in trying to determine what type of rescue needs to take place will follow. That is why registering an EPIRB is vitally important as well as the integrity of the information supplied about the owner/operator. There are some countries that mandate registration by law and there could be penalties for not registering the beacon. However, the System will still work but with the potential for delays, this is not a good option. As long as the Cospas-Sarsat system is able to obtain a position, search and rescue personnel can respond to a distress signal, but with potentially long delays for lack of information. Try to add two emergency contacts when registering an EPIRB, especially one that can be reach anytime of the day. Reason for confirming information with relevant contacts is beacons can be stolen and set off deliberately. They can also be activated accidentally. In this type of scenario, the information provided with the registration can be used to confirm as much, so reducing the risk of rescue personal going out on a “rescue” which is not required. wasting time and money and possible hampering a potential need for a real rescue. Who should be an emergency point of contact on a 406-MHz emergency beacon registration form? Anybody that is a family member or friend that is contactable 24hours a day. Somebody that can confirm about whether the person in distress is sailing, flying or hiking. Also, it needs to be somebody that will not be travelling with the person on the specific trip. How to check that the EPIRB is programmed? before leaving the premises where the beacon has been purchased, make sure that the relevant documentation has been provided with the beacon. This should include a programming certificate, test report, registration document for the relevant authority where the unit needs to be registered and additional forms for warranty. Test reports are just as important in that these will check the function of the EPIRB and that the correct information is being transmitted from the beacon in case of an emergency situation. When looking at the documentation, check to see that the information listed on the forms is exactly what was entered on the registration form. Dealers need to program the unit before it leaves the premises. Question the dealer about the level in which they do the programming of the unit. If they just program and not supply the relevant information as mentioned, then alarm bells should be ringing. Make sure this is done. The device being purchased is a live saving device and If this is not checked, lives will be put at risk. Is the Beacon serviceable? Yes. EPIRB’s are supplied with a battery pack that needs to be replaced after a certain period of time as batteries carry an expiry date. This could be anything from 5 – 10 years from date of purchase. Once the expiry date of the battery has been reached, please take the beacon to an authorised service centre that has been trained and equipped to do this battery replacement. This is very important as the units are put through tests. Not just to replace the battery, but to also check the integrity of the electronics of the beacon. There are beacons out there that offer user replaceable battery pack. That is fine, but replacing the battery doesn’t check the integrity of the unit’s electronics. The marine environment is a very unforgiving environment and needs to be respected, especially when it comes to electronics. The other objective point to this is that most beacons on the market come with a 5-year warranty. Now some of these beacons will also come with a 10-year battery expiry. What is the point of having such a long battery life if the electronic unit only carries a 5-year warranty? That is why the recommendation is that the EPIRB is brought into an approved service agent to do a check on the unit. What needs to be considered when buying an EPIRB? When making the decision to buy an EPIRB, please consider the following: Make sure the unit operates of both the 406 and 121.5 frequency bands. As a recommended addition, try going for a become that has a built in multi GNSS receiver. This will speed up the position acquisition by some considerably reduced time as well as give the unit access to multiple satellite constellations like GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. Check that the unit can do manual and automatic activation. Consideration will need to be done with regards to type of bracket wanted for the EPIRB. Check to see that the dealer from where the beacon is being purchased can do the necessary programming of the beacon as well as the necessary battery replacements when the battery expiry dates arrive. The dealer should also have the relevant test equipment to perform checks on the EPIRB and provide documentation there to. Confirm that the necessary documentation will be provided with the new beacon for example the programming certificate, test report, and that the beacon will be marked accordingly. Confirm with the relevant authorities what beacon is acceptable for use on board the specific flag administering the vessel. Buying a beacon on price is not always the best option. Look at the manufacturer service network to give piece of mind that the beacon can be looked at if, for example, the battery needs to be replaced. © NjordX AB