EPIRB reminder

Cairns Police are reminding boaties to make sure their Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) details are up to date following a search and rescue on Arlington Reef over the weekend.

Around 3.45pm on Sunday (Feb 2) Cairns Water Police received information from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Canberra of a 406MHz EPIRB activation in the vicinity of Upolu Reef in the Coral Sea.

Inquiries revealed the EPIRB belonged to a 4.8m vessel, which had recently been sold and the new owner registration details had not been updated.

Police conducted a number of searches to identify the owner to no avail and called for assistance via radio broadcast.

A recreational vessel responded to the broadcast and made their way to the location.

Additional support came from a private charter helicopter after they provided co-ordinates for the stricken vessel on Arlington Reef.

At 5.00pm, confirmation came that the vessel had broken down and was being towed to shore by the recreational vessel and Coastguard.

Water police investigations are continuing, however this incident has prompted a warning that all purchasing owners are required by law to complete change of vessel ownership with Queensland Transport within 14 days of purchasing the vessel.

Further to this, it is also a requirement that EPIRB registration details are updated with Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) on transfer to a new owner. Penalties apply in both instances for failure to update change of ownership details.