Make the switch to 406

Recreational boat owners with vessels eight metres or longer must replace their distress beacons under new rules to take effect on 1 July.

Operators of commercial vessels (Class A, B or C) working in offshore waters must also make the switch to 406 MHz distress beacons under these new rules.

An amendment to the Boating (Safety Equipment) Regulation – NSW, under the Maritime Services Act, will require 406 MHz digital beacons to replace any 121.5 MHz analogue beacons by July. Distress beacons are also known as Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).

To comply with the new requirement, 406 MHz beacons must also be registered with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and carry a registration sticker.

From 1 February 2009, the outdated 121.5 MHz signal will no longer be monitored by aircraft or satellite.

Each 406 MHz beacons – registered to an individual person and their craft – carries a unique identification code, transmitted when the beacons is activated.

The unique code provides vital information about the registered boat and its owner – ensuring a faster and more effective search and rescue response appropriate to vessel size. Outdated analogue beacons provided only a position to rescuers.

Boaters – including recreational vessels 8m or larger required by law to carry a distress beacon – must make the switch for safety’s sake.

As an additional safety measure, any skipper going offshore should use their marine radio to alert the volunteer marine radio network with the details of the expected journey, and then log off on return.

For more information go to http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/index.asp and
http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/MainPages/indexEnglish.htm