CG reminds boaters of importance of maintaining Emergency Locator Beacons
May 7, 2016
WASHINGTON (LOG NEWS SERVICE) — The Coast Guard and the National Safe Boating Council remind recreational boaters of the importance of having 406 megahertz emergency locator beacons aboard to facilitate rescue in case of an emergency, keeping their beacon’s registration updated and checking them regularly for proper operation.
“Having a properly registered beacon greatly enhances the speed with which the Coast Guard can respond to any mariners in distress,” said Edward Huntsman, recreational boating safety program manager at the Eighth Coast Guard District in New Orleans.
BoatUS, in a release, cited three maintenance tips for 406 MHz beacons — Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons for boats and Personal Locator Beacons for individual use on land or sea:
1. Test your beacon: cospas-sarsat.int/.
2. Check the battery’s expiration date: If your battery is expired and it is not a user replaceable battery, contact the beacon’s manufacturer to find an authorized repair center near you.
3. Update the beacon’s registration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration: sarsat.noaa.gov/beacon.html.
An EPIRB or PLB is used to alert search and rescue forces in the event of an emergency.
