Personal EPIRBS permitted on PWCS

Emergency Personal Radio Indicator Beacons or EPIRBS for short have been becoming more and more popular with adventurous and offshore jet ski riders, kayakers and small boat sailors. But the mainstream units are relatively bulky and the maritime law didn’t allow smaller personal beacons to be carried aboard… up till now!

Acting Queensland Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports, Steven Miles, said advances in search-and-rescue technology meant operators of smaller craft could now use personal locator beacons without compromising their safety.

"We will now allow these beacons as acceptable safety equipment on lightweight craft such as personal watercraft, more commonly called jet skis, canoes, kayaks and sailboats under six metres [in length]," Mr Miles said.

Current regulations require Queensland regulated ships to carry an EPIRB when operating outside of the declared smooth or partially smooth waters or other waters more than two nautical miles from land.

"We have determined it is now possible for personal watercraft (PWC) and other lightweight craft users to wear personal locator beacons," Mr Miles affirmed.

However there would be some simple, common-sense conditions managing their proper use.

Industry advocates have said there were problems with carrying an EPIRB on a PWC, such as finding somewhere to store this important piece of safety equipment on such a small craft.

Added to this was the concern that a rider who fell off a PWC could quickly become separated from the vessel carrying the EPIRB.

"Clearly this had the potential to seriously compromise any search-and-rescue operations not only in relation to PWC riders but other lightweight craft users," Mr Miles said.

Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) had been sympathetic to these concerns and has consulted closely with groups including the Queensland Recreational Boating Council and the Australian Jet Ski Association.

MSQ also approached search and rescue partners including the Queensland Police Service, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and volunteer marine rescue groups looking for comment on the approval of personal wearable EPIRBS.

"What they found was emerging technologies in search-and-rescue communications meant that the use of a personal locator beacon instead of an EPIRB would not reduce the level of safety or increase their potential rescue time.

Currently the Transport Operations (Marine Safety) Regulation 2016 requirement to carry an EPIRB, does not allow for the substitution of the EPIRB with a personal locator beacon in any situation where an EPIRB is required.

MSQ will now issue an exemption from the current legislation requirements allowing the wearing of a personal locator beacon by users of PWC and other lightweight craft where, up to now, the standard EPIRB was required.

More on safety in Queensland at Marine Safety Queensland.