12 December 2024

The Maritime and Coastguard agency has opened a consultation on changes to the legislation on registration of EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons).

The existing legislation governing the registration of EPIRBs will be replaced and updated to reflect changes in technology and, for the first time, will require the registration of PLBs used in the maritime environment. The new regulations will apply the additional registration requirements to UK flagged ships and hovercraft, and watercraft.

The new regulations do not require purchase of equipment, but rather they require registration of equipment which has already been purchased. Registration is free and can be accessed online.

Both EPIRB and PLB registration will ensure that His Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) Search and Rescue (SAR) is more efficient. In tandem to any SAR response being initiated, the process of alert validation is performed by HMCG.  Registering beacons expedites the mission as the search target will be known plus further amplifying information could be gained through the emergency contacts, further assisting search efforts.

Anyone may respond to this consultation and consideration will be given to all responses.  We will be particularly interested to hear from ship owners, shipping companies, protection and indemnity clubs, port and terminal operators, individuals, leisure users and other parties with an interest in shipping and the marine environment.

A link to the full set of regulation changes together with the form to respond to the consultation can be found HERE.

The consultation remains open until 1:59pm on 30 January 2025, Responses will be analysed during February and March 2025 with the aim to publish an overview of the responses and the MCA’s comments by April 2025.

British Marine members with specific concerns should email technical@britishmarine.co.uk