Strategies for a Safer Boating Season from Ocean Signal

Leading marine safety manufacturer advises boaters to carry an EPIRB and PLBs for the reassurance that they can alert search and rescue in an emergency

As more and more people start adventuring more on the the water, safety specialist Ocean Signal is reminding boaters to make sure their vessels are equipped with a properly registered Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) for crew. Ocean Signal is highlighting that far too few boats are equipped with an EPIRB, although it is precisely what every vessel should have onboard. EPIRBs ensure maximum chance of survival in an emergency when installed on the boat, communicating the location of a survivor to search and rescue services via the 406MHz Cospas-Sarsat satellite system when activated.

A PLB is very similar to an EPIRB, but they are designed to be worn by the crew or stowed away inside a lifejacket. These GPS locator beacons will pin-point the survivor’s location directly to search and rescue anywhere in the world in just a few minutes.

Ocean Signal Managing Director James Hewitt said: “Most required safety gear, like marine flares, is essential, but this mandated marine safety equipment is mainly to enable leisure vessels to let nearby boats know you need help. The products are not designed to alert others far away that you are in an emergency. What boaters really need is technology that can quickly and easily alert search and rescue agencies around the world that they are in an emergency situation and need immediate help.”

Ahead of the summer sailing season, Ocean Signal advises all boaters to check all their safety gear and make sure it is in proper working order before setting sail. For those with an EPIRB or PLB, now is a good time to perform a self-test, update the beacon’s registration and check the battery expiration date. Sister company UML also recommends checking the Automatic Inflation Systems in your life jackets and ensuring the inflator is serviced and in good condition. Finally, always make sure to show crew where all the safety gear on the boat is located, how and when to use it, and practice some basic abandon ship safety drills to ensure a safer boating season.

As the world’s most compact EPIRB, the Ocean Signal rescueME EPIRB3 is the ideal solution for anyone who needs to equip their boat with an AIS EPIRB solution. The 406 MHz beacon, which features a ground-breaking 30% reduction in size compared to other EPIRBs and a huge 10-year battery life, also provides valuable peace of mind for crew and loved ones back home. The Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 is the world’s smallest Personal Locator Beacon and the new PLB3 is the first AIS enabled satellite PLB – perfect for every captain who wants to outfit their crew with the latest in survival technology.