Boaties warned about EPIRBs
Analogue radio beacons out of dateAustralia’s largest battery retailer has warned boaties that they could be putting themselves and their crews in danger by failing to replace analogue emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) with new mandatory digital EPIRBs.
Battery World general manager, James Nixon-Smith, said the old 121.5 MHz EPIRB had been phased out under new maritime laws and those still using them could placed themselves in jeopardy during an emergency.
“The digital 406 MHz EPIRBs officially replaced the old 121.5 MHz models last November as required safety equipment for all boats operating more than two nautical miles from land,” Nixon-Smith explained.
“From February 1 this year the monitoring of the 121.5 MHz beacons stopped, so you can no longer rely on them in an emergency.
“The change to digital was brought about to provide authorities in a rescue situation with more accurate information, in a much shorter timeframe than the old system,” added Nixon-Smith.
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