Marine Safety - EPIRBs

An EPIRB, or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, is a marine safety device that transmits a distress signal to search and rescue satellites when activated, helping rescuers locate a vessel in an emergency. EPIRBs are registered to a specific vessel and broadcast your position until help arrives.

Marine safety EPIRBs are designed for any boater venturing offshore, including recreational sailors, commercial fishermen, and offshore cruisers who travel beyond reliable VHF radio range. Regulatory requirements for carrying an EPIRB vary by vessel type and operating area, so checking with your local maritime authority is recommended.

A Category 1 EPIRB automatically activates and floats free from its bracket when a vessel sinks, while a Category 2 EPIRB requires manual activation by the crew. Category 1 models are generally recommended for offshore passages where the crew may not have time to manually deploy the device.

Register a marine EPIRB by submitting your vessel and owner information to the national beacon registry in your country, such as NOAA's beacon registration database in the United States. Registration is free, legally required in most jurisdictions, and ensures rescue coordinators can identify your vessel and contact emergency contacts quickly.

A hydrostatic release unit automatically releases an EPIRB from its bracket when submerged to a depth of one to four meters, allowing the beacon to float to the surface and activate. Hydrostatic release units have a limited service life and must be replaced on a regular schedule to ensure reliable operation.

Yes, many modern marine EPIRBs include built-in AIS transmission capability, which broadcasts your position on the AIS frequency used by nearby vessels and coast guard stations in addition to the satellite distress signal. AIS-equipped EPIRBs can significantly speed up local search and rescue response while the satellite alert is being processed.

Most marine EPIRB batteries have a manufacturer-specified expiration date, typically five years from the date of manufacture, after which the battery must be replaced or the unit recertified. Letting an EPIRB battery expire renders the device non-compliant and potentially unreliable in an actual emergency, so tracking the expiration date is critical.

Yes, an EPIRB can transmit a distress signal without GPS, but GNSS-equipped EPIRBs provide a precise location to rescue coordinators far more quickly than non-GPS models. Without a GPS fix, rescuers rely on Doppler calculations from satellites to estimate position, which can take significantly longer and cover a wider search area.

Because GNSS EPIRBs encode your precise GPS coordinates directly into the distress signal, dramatically reducing the search area for rescue teams compared to non-GPS beacons. Faster, more accurate position data can make a critical difference in survival time, especially in rough weather or remote offshore locations.

Store a marine EPIRB in its approved bracket in a location that is accessible and, for Category 1 units, exposed to the open sky so the hydrostatic release can function properly. Inspect the unit regularly for physical damage, confirm the self-test function passes, and track the battery and hydrostatic release unit expiration dates to stay compliant and rescue-ready.