Photo by Richard Bennett

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

Commercial vessels which come into survey after 1 July will also be required to make the switch to a 406MHz beacon.

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

From 1 February 2009, the outdated 121.5 MHz signal will no longer be monitored by aircraft or satellite.

Each 406 MHz beacon – registered to an individual person and their craft - carries a unique identification code, transmitted when the beacon 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 the vessel size. The analogue beacon provided only a position to rescuers.

Boaters must switch to using 406 MHz distress beacons ahead of February next year for safety’s sake.

Skippers of recreational vessels 8m or larger are required by law to carry a distress beacon – as well as other safety equipment such as a combination of distress signals - when operating two nautical miles or more from the coast.

It is also recommended skippers of smaller vessels heading offshore also carry a distress beacon.

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

All ocean-going commercial vessel in survey – Classes A, B and C – are also required to switch to using 406 MHz distress beacons.

New beacon requirements are the result of an amendment to the Boating (Safety Equipment) Regulation – NSW, under the Maritime Services Act.

NSW Maritime Boating Officers randomly check safety equipment, including distress beacons on vessels. Last year, more than 35,000 checks were conducted on NSW waters.

For more information go to http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/index.asp

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