Boaters should check their EPIRB ID codes

[LuckyLady]

Boaters should check their EPIRB ID codes
April, 24 2009, 07:49 AM

Cobham Life Support, ACR Products is urging all EPIRB and PLB owners to double-check their 15-character identification code registration.


According to a recent Marine Board of Investigation inquiry, which is looking into the March 24 sinking of the scallop boat Lady Mary, there was a discrepancy in the EPIRB's identification number, marked on a decal that the boat's owner had received from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after he registered the EPIRB.

In the case of Lady Mary, the emergency signal initially received by authorities was regarded as unregistered, which may have led to delays in response time while emergency center controllers waited for additional satellite passes to fix a location.

"Because this situation came to light, we are urging all beacon owners to compare their 15-character identification code printed on the beacon with the registration sticker they receive from NOAA just to ensure they both match," said Chris Wahler, marketing manager for Cobham Life Support, ACR Products, in a statement.

Despite the requirement to register all EPIRBs and PLBs, some reports show that up to 40 percent of EPIRB activations are from unregistered beacons, according to the company.

[Wild Life Management]

Only 26 views??? I don't remember checking the numbers on my epirbs to see if they match the labels from NOAA. I would think that this is something that everyone with an epirb should do. Thanks for the heads-up Mary.

[giantfan]

40%.... that's just crazy.

What are people thinking????

It's not like they are cheap... you would think that since someone is going thru the expense of getting one, that they would follow thru with all of the paperwork so it functions properly. It's not like they try to hide the fact that it needs to be registered... there are warnings all over it when you take it out of the box.

I just don't get it.

[JD5652]

I've never checked my ID numbers against the paperwork either...... will do it TODAY....Thanks LuckyLady!

[LuckyLady]

40%.... that's just crazy.

What are people thinking????

It's not like they are cheap... you would think that since someone is going thru the expense of getting one, that they would follow thru with all of the paperwork so it functions properly. It's not like they try to hide the fact that it needs to be registered... there are warnings all over it when you take it out of the box.

I just don't get it.

I think its a lot more than we all think

Do you know how many VHF's with the DSC's that I see that are not connected. If its connected you will see your current lat long on the top of the display.

Pretty amazing that people go out of thier way to buy safety equipment and do not follow thru with it.

Wonder how many life rafts that are not recert'ed annually bet that number is near 75%

[Team Boat Show Direct]

Good advice Mary thanks

[Rob Rondini]

just re-registered mine, good to go mary

[LuckyLady]

Good deal I am glad that many found this helpful as a reminder.

I thought sometimes my news post were worthless but very glad i do what i do, and its worth it

[Wild Life Management]

Wonder how many life rafts that are not recert'ed annually bet that number is near 75%

I bet you're pretty close. I thought one of the boats that went down last year had a raft that hadn't been serviced in 20 years, or something crazy like that. If I recall, the raft deployed and no one was lost, but still, that's a long time with out an inspection.

The place that services my raft (every year) said that they have seen a huge increase in the number of rafts in for inspection, possibly motivated by the Lady Mary sinking. They now have a six or seven week turn around, normally it's one to two weeks.

[sjogren]

Mary is there a web site to register EPIRBS ?
Can't remember if I registered.
I do have a new release and battery, not cheap.

Thanks