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BOATERS MUST NOT OPERATE 121.5/243 MHZ EPIRBs AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2006
WASHINGTON -
The Coast Guard reminds all boaters that beginning January 1, 2007,
both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational
watercraft. Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon
aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.
The January
1, 2007, date to stop using 121.5 MHz EPIRBs is in preparation for
February 1, 2009, when satellite processing of distress signals from
all 121.5/243 MHz beacons will terminate. Following this termination
date, only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International
Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System which provides distress alert and
location data for search and rescue operations around the world.
The
regulation applies to all Class A, B, and S 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs. It
does not affect 121.5/243 MHz man overboard devices which are
designed to work directly with a base alerting unit only and not
with the satellite system.
This change,
in large part, was brought about by the unreliability of the
121.5/243 MHz beacons in an emergency situation. Data reveals that
with a 121.5 MHz beacon, only one alert out of every 50 is a genuine
distress situation. This has a significant effect on expending the
limited resources of search and rescue personnel and platforms. With
406 MHz beacons, false alerts have been reduced significantly, and,
when properly registered, can usually be resolved with a telephone
call to the beacon owner. Consequently, real alerts can receive the
attention they deserve.
When a 406
MHz beacon signal is received, search and rescue personnel can
retrieve information from a registration database. This includes the
beacon owner's contact information, emergency contact information,
and vessel/aircraft identifying characteristics. Having this
information allows the Coast Guard, or other rescue personnel, to
respond appropriately.
In the U.S.,
users are required by law to directly register their beacon in the
U.S. 406 MHz Beacon Registration
Database
at:
http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ or by calling
1-888-212-SAVE. Other users can register their beacon in their
country's national beacon registration database or, if no national
database is available, in the International Beacon Registration
Database
at
https://www.406registration.com/.
The United
States Coast Guard is the lead agency for coordinating national
maritime search and rescue policy and is responsible for providing
search and rescue services on, under and over assigned international
waters and waters subject to United States jurisdiction.
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