What is An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)?
by Admin
Posted on 17-10-2023 02:33 PM
Emergency position indicating radio beacon (epirb) is a device to alert search and rescue services (sar) in case of an emergency out at sea. It is tracking equipment that transmits a signal on a specified band to locate a lifeboat, life raft, ship or
people
in distress.
They are installed on ships and other vessels after being registered with the national search and rescue forces to that boat. The registration allows confirmation of false alerts faster and quick rescue operations in case of emergencies. An epirb is a secondary means of distress alerting, which is to say that it comes later in the hierarchy of alerting sar authorities in case of distress.
An emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (epirb) is a type of emergency locator beacon for commercial and recreational boats, a portable, battery-powered radio transmitter used in emergencies to locate boaters in distress and in need of immediate rescue. In the event of an emergency, such as a ship sinking or medical emergency onboard, the transmitter is activated and begins transmitting a continuous 406 mhz distress radio signal, which is used by search-and-rescue teams to quickly locate the emergency and render aid. The signal is detected by satellites operated by an international consortium of rescue services, cospas-sarsat , which can detect emergency beacons anywhere on earth transmitting on the distress frequency of 406 mhz.
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:.
Epirb stands for emergency position-indicating radio beacon. You may also hear an epirb referred to as a gpirb, this stands for an epirb that has an internal gnss/gps receiver to pinpoint your location faster.
How Does An EPIRB Work?
An epirb is an emergency position indicating radio beacon, which is a device that is used at sea to alert search and rescue services (sar) in distress or an emergency. Working in a similar way to a plb, an epirb is installed on vessels and are registered to a specific boat, rather than a person, via the national search and rescue organisation. In most countries, it is mandatory for all commercial vessels to have an epirb registered.
To test your epirb, hold the "test" button until the epirb starts flashing. If everything is working correctly it will flash 3 times, completing the test -- remember, it is recommended that you test your epirb once per month! all models are different and have different test buttons/processes, please follow instructions on the unit to verify the proper self-tested method. If your epirb does not show clear or favorable results, it could mean your battery is low or something else is wrong. If you have any questions feel free to call us at (206) 782-3302, one of our technicians can walk you through the process.
A float-free epirb has both a water activated switch and a manual activation switch, resulting in two options for activation: option 1: manual activation – manually remove the float-free bracket lid then remove the epirb. Activate the epirb by pressing the on switch or by placing it in water. Option 2: water activation – this will happen automatically when the vessel capsizes. See how float-free epirbs work. Once an epirb has been activated, it must be returned to the manufacturer for servicing. This will ensure the epirb is fit for purpose for the next journey. Read more about servicing requirements below.