Photo by Doug Leister Beginning January 1, only 406 MHz model EPIRBs, such as this ACR unit, are approved for commercial and recreational boats.

Washington DC - The Coast Guard is advising boaters that, beginning Jan. 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in commercial and recreational vessels.

Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model. 

Mariners should begin replacing their analog EPIRBs now in preparation for the Feb. 1, 2009 date in which satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5 and 243 MHz beacons will cease.  Following this termination date, only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System which provides distress alert and location data for search and rescue operations around the world.

The regulation applies to all 121.5 and 243 MHz Class A, B and S EPIRBs.  It does not affect 121.5 or 243 MHz man overboard devices which are designed to work directly with a base alerting unit only and not with the satellite system.

This change was brought about, in large part, due to the unreliability of the 121.5 and 243 MHz beacons in emergency situations.  Data reveals that, with a 121.5 MHz beacon, only one alert out of every 50 is a genuine distress situation.

These errors have had a significant affect on the expenditure of search and rescue personnel and other resources.  With the use of 406 MHz beacons, coupled with proper registration, false alerts have been reduced significantly.  Consequently, real alerts can receive the attention they deserve.

When a 406 MHz beacon signal is received, search and rescue personnel can retrieve information from a registration database.  This includes the beacon owner's contact information and vessel/aircraft identifying characteristics.  Having this information allows the Coast Guard, or other rescue personnel, to respond appropriately.

In the United States, users are required by law to directly register their beacons in the U.S. 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database at: http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ or by calling 1-888-212-SAVE.  Other users can register their beacon in their country's national beacon registration database or, if no national database is available, in the International Beacon Registration Database at https://www.406registration.com/. 

The Coast Guard is the lead agency for coordinating national maritime search and rescue policy and is responsible for providing search and rescue services on, under and over assigned international waters and waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction.