News
Call for beacon collection and disposal opportunities – 26 May 2019
We are seeking businesses to contribute to a national service for distress beacon collection and disposal.
Distress beacons are an important part of search and rescue efforts, helping to save hundreds of lives. Every year, incorrectly disposed distress beacons accidentally activate, wasting vital search and rescue resources.
Help us reduce beacon false alerts by keeping beacons out of the bin
A national beacon disposal service will reduce false alerts, ensuring search and rescue assets are ready to act promptly in an emergency.
Register your interest in contributing to a national beacon collection and disposal service, and help thousands of Australians to confidently dispose of their old beacons safely.
Registrations of interest were open until 28 June 2019, and have now closed.
Find out more and register your interest at www.tenders.gov.au ATM ID: ROI 19AMSA073.
Prepare to survive: Know the five – 14 February 2019
Carrying a means of calling for help when out on the water is standard for most Victorian boaters and many paddlers, but too many think a mobile phone and/or hand-held radio are sufficient.
'A GPS-enabled emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) registered with AMSA or a personal locator beacon are your best bet for getting help if things go wrong,' said MSV Safety Director Rachel Gualano.
'Mobile phones or hand-held radios might not work when wet and touchscreens may be unresponsive to cold wet fingers.
'It costs nothing to register a beacon with AMSA and it might be the difference between life and death. While you’re only required to carry an approved 406 MHz EPIRB when more than two nautical miles from the coast, MSV recommends taking one every time you’re out on the water.'
Alone and in the water
Victorian boater James says he was tumbled out of his kayak by a regulation wave that caught him by surprise.
'Once in the water, it was hard to think straight and, as I got colder, I found that my fingers didn’t work so well. I realised that if I was going to set off my beacon it had better be soon.
'I started to think about my partner and how worried she’d be as I was well overdue by that time. Looking back, the right thing to do would have been to set off the beacon as early as possible.
James did set off his distress beacon and a helicopter was dispatched.
'Based on my experience, my advice to you is always carry a distress beacon', James said.
‘Carry a distress beacon’ is a key message in MSV’s new boating safety campaign ‘Prepare to survive: Know the five’.
Watch James tell his story and get more advice from AMSA and Maritime Safety Victoria.
Prepare to survive: Know the five
- Know the weather
- Practise getting back on
- Carry a distress beacon
- Lock in a buddy plan
- Wear a lifejacket.
As Ms Gualano explained, one of the greatest risks to boaters and paddlers is unexpectedly entering the water, and then not being able to get back onto their vessel or to call for help.
'Our research shows that many boaters and paddlers tend to underestimate the risks and overestimate their capabilities.
'The 37 per cent of paddlers and 31 per cent of coastal boaters who reported that, on their last outing they did not carry any equipment to help them get back onto their craft, really needed to have a distress beacon with them.
'No matter how experienced you are, things can still happen that are outside your control.
'MSV's ‘Prepare to survive’ campaign brings home the importance of trip preparation, so that if something does happen on the water, boaters have the absolute best chance of survival.'
Mandatory float-free EPIRBs – 25 July 2018
From 1 January 2021, float-free emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) will be mandatory on certain types of domestic commercial vessels.
This change to safety equipment requirements comes after a number of incidents in Australia and internationally where commercial vessels have sunk quickly and the master and crew were not able to deploy their EPIRB in time, resulting in a tragic loss of life.
AMSA conducted extensive public consultation about changes to requirements for carrying float-free EPIRBs in 2018. As a result we are making changes to the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) from 1 January 2019, with a two-year transition period.
More information can be found about this change on the AMSA website.
Have a look at our float-free EPIRB video to see how this will work for you.
Voluntary recall on Kannad Safelink EPIRB – 12 January 2016
Beacon manufacturer Kannad Marine has issued a voluntary recall for the Safelink EPIRB model. If you suspect that you may have an affected beacon, you should not use the Safelink as the primary Search and Rescue beacon on board your vessel. Please register your ownership, location and contact details via the dedicated website: www.safelinkepirbsupport.co.uk. You can also read the Recall Procedure for further information.
The choice is yours
Did you know that AMSA has improved the beacon registration system. See our flyer to find out further information. Use your mobile, tablet or computer to register your beacon online.
Distress beacons and MMSI information
Find out more about AMSA distress beacons and MMSI in our new brochure.
Updated disposal options for unwanted beacons
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is urging owners of emergency beacons to dispose of their unwanted beacons correctly.
AMSA spokesperson Lisa Martin said emergency beacons can inadvertently activate if they are not correctly disposed, which often occurs when beacons are thrown in the rubbish and end up in tips.
“When a beacon is activated, AMSA is alerted and a search and rescue response may be initiated,” Ms
Martin said.
“Search assets and personnel tasked to look for beacons which are inadvertently activated may then be unavailable for a real emergency,” she said.
Beacon owners should be aware that there has been a change in beacon disposal arrangements with Battery World. Free disposal is no longer available at Battery World stores and a small fee will now apply.
Battery World marine spokesperson Vince Petruzzella said the company started collecting the unwanted beacons in 2007 as part of the transition to the 406MHz digital beacon.
“Our relationship with AMSA and the importance of correct beacon disposal is still very important to us but due to the increasing number of beacons being disposed and associated labour involved, stores will now charge a small fee,” he said.
Australia has the highest usage of beacons per capita in the world with over 350,000 beacons registered
in AMSA’s database.
Beacon owners can still dispose of unwanted beacons responsibly in the following ways:
- Contact your local battery store. A small fee may apply.
- Contact your local maritime safety agency. They may be able to provide disposal advic
- Disconnect the beacon battery according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Then contact your local waste management facility to ask about environmentally friendly disposal options. A small
fee may apply.
Anyone who disposes of their unwanted beacon should update their details with AMSA to de-register their beacon. Details can be updated online at Beacons website or by phoning AMSA on 1800 406 406.
No beacon registration stickers from September 2015
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) will no longer issue stickers as proof of beacon registration from September 2015. This change affects vessel and aircraft owners who are required to carry a registered beacon under regulatory carriage requirements.
The reason for this change is because Australian beacon owners have brought to AMSA’s attention a number of issues relating to stickers. As a result, AMSA will move to an easier and more mobile method of proving beacon registration.
As vessel and aircraft owners are still required by law to provide proof of beacon registration if asked by authorities, you must use one of the following alternative methods from 15th September 2015:
Email registrationSMS registration
Post printed registration
Mobile beacon system
Help us help you
What can I do to make my rescue quicker?
- Buy a GPS beacon
- Register your beacon
- Upload trip plans and photos
- Keep contact details up to date
- Check battery expiry
- Test your beacon
- Know how to use your beacon
- Prepare to survive
Safety recall for selected GME EPIRB models
Beacon manufacturer GME has issued a safety recall affecting EPIRB models MT400, MT401 and MT403.
View the Product Safety Recall (PDF, 302 KB) for further information. Questions should be made directly to GME via recall@gme.net.au.
Read the safety recall message (PDF)121.5 MHz beacons no longer detected by satellite
121.5 MHz distress beacons are no longer detected by satellite.
You MUST switch to a 406 MHz distress beacon as soon as possible.
Do not risk your life by relying on a 121.5 MHz distress beacon.
After 1 Feb 2010, old analogue EPIRBs and PLBs operating on 121.5 MHz are no longer licenced for use.
Registration of your 406 MHz Distress Beacon is valid for two years and can be renewed online.
Register or update your details
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