Whether you’re going offshore or not, an EPIRB is not a bad idea
PORTSMOUTH, VA July 9, 2004 --There were three people rescued from the 35-foot sailing vessel Dulcinea 85 miles southeast of Cape Fear, N.C.
After drifting for more than two days, the trio activated an Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. A C-130 airplane from Elizabeth City, N.C., was launched and quickly located the demasted sailboat. An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter was also launched and safely hoisted all three people aboard in 55 mile-per-hour winds and 10-15 foot seas.
The crew of the Sailing Vessel Dulcinea was lucky. They were lucky because they choose to carry onboard their vessel a non-mandated, somewhat expensive piece of safety equipment.
They were lucky because they remembered that they had this non-mandated, but essential piece of safety equipment onboard their vessel.
They were lucky because they triggered this non-mandated, but essential piece of safety equipment, and were rescued in short-order.
What is an EPIRB?
An EPIRB is a device that costs anywhere from $200 to $1500, depending on the Class or Category, and optional features of the device. Today, if a boater were to purchase an EPIRB, the Coast Guard recommends the following types:
Category I
406/121.5 MHZ. Tis model floats-free, and is an automatically activated EPIRB. It is 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.
The following type of EPIRB is currently not sold in the U.S.; however, the Federal Communications Commission is considering recognizing these devices.
Inmarsat E
1646 MHZ. Float-free, automatically activated EPIRB. Detectable by Inmarsat geostationary satellite. Recognized by GMDSS.
What is GMDSS?
GMDSS stands for Global Maritime Distress & Safety System. According to the USCG Navigation Center, GMDSS
“…consists of several systems, some of which are new, but many of which have been in operation for many years. The system will be able to reliably perform the following functions: alerting (including position determination of the unit in distress), search and rescue coordination, locating (homing), maritime safety information broadcasts, general communications, and bridge-to-bridge communications. Specific radio carriage requirements depend upon the ship's area of operation, rather than its tonnage. The system also provides redundant means of distress alerting, and emergency sources of power.”
For more information on GMDSS, the Coast Guard has this brochure: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/gmdssbr2.pdf
The United Safe Boating Institute (USBI) also has a brochure: http://www.usbi.org/GDMSS.pdf
A simple decision
If you boat off-shore, or in areas that are not transited regularly by other boaters, you really should strongly consider purchasing an EPIRB. If you boat in an area transited by many other boaters, think twice about the number of times you’ve helped a boater in distress, and then rethink your decision (especially if its against spending the money) and buy an EPRIB.
Registration
So you’ve thought it over and went out and purchased a 406 MHz EPIRB. Congratulations - you have your new EPIRB!
Remember, older models are NOT recommended, and are considerably less accurate. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. So, spend a little more money, even though you may find the deal of a life-time on eBay!
Now don’t forget to register it with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). You can get the registration from here: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/gmdss/epirbfrm.pdf ;
Why register? First, it’s the law; and secondly - it helps the Coast Guard with identifying the vessel and the owner. You should not move an EPRIB from one vessel to another, unless you modify your registration.
Boating Safely
Boating safely includes adhering to federal, state and local regulations concerning mandatory equipment; obtain as much boating orientated education as possible; and then go the extra mile and obtain safety based equipment and education that will make you the best and safest boater you can be!
For more information, refer to the USCG web site (www.uscg.mil) and for boating education, contact the USCG Auxiliary (www.cgaux.org ).
By Wayne Spivak
National Press Corps
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
This article courtesy of http://www.safety2006.info.
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