If you still own a 121.5 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) and plan to rely on it in the event of an emergency, you are putting the lives of your crew and yourself in grave danger.
From 1 February 2009 monitoring of the 121.5 MHz beacons will cease.
Buy and register a 406 MHz EPIRB before setting out to sea. Remember, you must register your EPIRB with the appropriate authorities (see below). Failure to register may slow the rescue and lead to loss of life. The good news is that registration is free.
Australia
Australian Marine Safety Authority (AMSA)
New Zealand
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ)
UK
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Registration is a legal requirement.
USA
NOAA SARSAT Beacon Registration
Failure to register leads to a fine.
Other Countries
The COSPAS-SARSAT website has an alphabetical listing of countries and their registration authorities.
Disposal of old EPIRBs and batteries
In Australia 121.5 EPIRBs and old batteries may be taken to Battery World for recycling or safe disposal.
