A package of measures going out for consultation is set to make search and rescue response faster and simpler for people carrying Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) on the water.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is proposing an update to bring PLBs under the same registration requirements that currently apply to Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).
Why the change?
The change would require people to register their current and any new PLBs with the MCA – free of charge – if they are used in a maritime environment, ranging from sea and coast to inland rivers and lakes.
Registration means that when a PLB is activated, HM Coastguard can use the details to identify, verify and locate the person in distress and send help more quickly and effectively in an emergency.
Body-worn devices
PLBs broadcast a location on the same 406MHz frequency as bigger EPIRBs, but are designed to be worn on the body, rather than on a vessel or liferaft, and are always manually activated.
The set of updates also reflects changes in technology and extends registration obligations to hovercraft and other types of watercraft.
Goulding: Could make all the difference to being found and recovered safely
Linda Goulding, UK Distress and Security Beacon Registry Manager, said,
“Spending just 15 minutes registering a PLB online could make all the difference to being found and recovered safely from a life-threatening situation.
“Simply register any existing 406MHz PLBs, and any new ones you buy in future, on our customer self-serve webpage, as people currently do with their EPIRBs.
“Make sure you keep your registration up to date to ensure search and rescue teams can find you in an emergency.”
Take part in the consultation
To respond to the consultation by the deadline of 30th January 2025, visit the website.
To register a PLB or EPIRB, visit the website.
News shared by MCA in their own words. Ed
