Safe Boating: an essential guide
17 March 2010
Maritime New Zealand's current online services.
A distress beacon is one of the most reliable means of signalling you need help in an emergency. The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) monitors the frequency that distress beacons operate on around-the-clock, and is responsible for responding to all 406 MHz distress beacon alerts on land, sea or air within New Zealand’s search and rescue region.
EPIRBs (emergency position-indicating radio beacons) are distress beacons designed for the maritime environment. They are waterproof and designed to float in water. Some require manual activation and have additional safety devices, such as strobe lights. Others are self-activating and will float free in an emergency. The battery life of an EPIRB is normally twice as long as that of a PLB (personal locator beacon).
In some cases a smaller, waterproof personal locator beacon or PLB may be suitable and can also be used for other purposes, such as tramping, climbing, gliding and other outdoor activities. PLBs are small enough to fit in your pocket and are activated manually, but most do not float and have a shorter battery life than EPIRBs. Talk to your local supplier about which beacon is best for your needs. If you are using a PLB, you should keep it on you at all times.
How will a 406 MHz beacon help save my life?
What kind of 406 MHz beacon do I need?
Rules about beacons
Where should I keep it?
Don't buy a foreign 406!
Registering your beacon
Disposing of unwanted beacons
How does the 406 MHz beacon monitoring system work?
A wide range of beacons are suitable for marine use. Some are activated manually, while others will float free and activate automatically if the vessel sinks. In some cases a smaller, waterproof PLB may be suitable and can also be used for other purposes, such as tramping, climbing, gliding and other outdoor activities. PLBs are small enough to fit in your pocket and are activated manually, but most do not float and have a shorter battery life than EPIRBs.
We strongly recommend you buy a beacon with in-built GPS as this dramatically improves its accuracy. This means your location can be identified by RCCNZ on the first contact with a satellite. Without GPS it would require two satellites to pick up your beacon signal, to resolve the ambiguity of the satellite positions. The time between satellite passes varies greatly, ranging between 20 minutes and 4.5 hours.
Your local supplier (see the supplier’s page on the beacons website: www.beacons.org.nz) will be able to guide you on the most suitable option for your needs, taking into account the kind of activities you engage in.
Offshore pleasure vessels heading overseas are required to carry a registered 406 MHz EPIRB. Yachts undertaking coastal races where Category 2 or 3 safety rules apply must carry a registered 406 MHz EPIRB. For further advice, contact the recreational boating team at recreational.boating@maritimenz.govt.nz.
For some classes of vessels, it became compulsory to carry registered 406 MHz EPIRBs from 1 July 2008. To determine if that applies to you, please contact your nearest Maritime New Zealand advisor or check out the relevant rules at www.maritimenz.govt.nz.
This depends on the type of EPIRB and where you are installing it.
On boats – If your EPIRB comes with a mounting bracket, place it where it is visible and easy to access in an emergency. If the EPIRB and mount have a magnetic activated mounting switch ensure that the two magnets are “face to face”. Make sure the EPIRB stays dry and keep it locked away when nobody is on board. If you are using a PLB, you must keep it on your person.
In the life raft – If you have an inflatable life raft on board, an additional beacon can be stored inside the raft.
Note: If you are moving beacons, always make sure they are in the “safe” or “off” mode.
Each country has an individual 406 code. When you purchase a 406 MHz distress beacon, make sure it is coded for New Zealand. The New Zealand Country Code is 512.
If you buy one from overseas or over the Internet, it could be an expensive mistake if it has the wrong code. When it is activated, the satellite may notify the wrong rescue coordination centre, which could mean a long, potentially life-threatening delay in your rescue. In some cases, it will not result in a rescue at all.
This means RCCNZ can contact you or a person you nominate to verify activation. This can improve search response time and help cut down on false alarms. Once your beacon is registered, you will need to keep your details up to date and notify RCCNZ if the beacon changes ownership.
There are two easy ways to register your 406 MHz beacon or update your details:
(1) Fill out the online 406 registration form at www.beacons.org.nz.
(2) Download the PDF registration form, complete it, and post, email or fax your form to:
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand
PO Box 30050
Lower Hutt 5040
New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 577 8041
Phone 0800 406 111 or email 406registry@maritimenz.govt.nz to make registration enquiries.
Obsolete EPIRBs (121.5 MHz and 243 MHz beacons) need to be correctly disposed of in case they accidentally activate and trigger a false alarm (although their signals are only detected by passing aircraft). Active beacons have been found at the bottom of rubbish tips, triggering expensive and unnecessary search operations. There is also the risk that someone may think an old 121.5 MHz EPIRB is a useful safety device.
It is also important to the environment that beacons are disposed of correctly. The batteries are normally toxic and must be disposed of in accordance with the relevant regulations. Please take the batteries out before disposing of an old beacon or return it to your beacon retailer.
If you sell or dispose of a registered 406 MHz beacon, please let RCCNZ know by phoning 0800 406 111.
For more information visit www.beacons.org.nz
