Remind boat owners about EPIRB changes
Peter Forey: 'owners with old beacons need to upgrade immediately'
RADIO BEACONS: Boat owners need to be reminded they must upgrade their analogue radio beacons by 1 February if they are to remain safe at sea.
'We still have people calling us about changing the batteries on their old EPIRBs, said Sartech's Peter Forey. 'Boat owners with one of these beacons will need to upgrade to 406MHz technology immediately.'
The changes are being made because the commonly-used 121.5MHz transmitters so frequently give out false alerts and rescue services are having to verify each signal, causing delays that are putting lives at risk.
Stuart Carruthers, cruising manager from the Royal Yachting Association, put the organisation behind Sartech’s campaign, saying: ‘It is vitally important that people check their beacons - now. From a safety point of view, this is paramount.'
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) reminds boat owners that when they do upgrade, the old equipment should be disposed of responsibly to avoid the chance of false alarms calling emergency rescue teams to landfill sites...
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