The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator informs about the unavailability of new EPIRBs

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator has issued a marine safety advisory regarding the unavailability of new Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons.

This ship security advisory was issued on 3 August 2023.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator (the “Administrator”) has received reports of vessels encountering difficulties in procuring Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) that are compliant with the performance standards established in IMO Resolution MSC.471(101), Performance Standards for Float-Free Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) Operating on 406 MHz.

This resolution recommends that float-free EPIRBs operating on the frequency 406 megahertz (MHz), which form part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, conform to performance and type-approval standards not inferior to those as specified in the table below.

1-See IACS UI SC 295 (July 2021) for an interpretation of the phrase “installed on or after 1 July 2022.”

As the shortages of EPIRBs meeting the latest technical standards and delays in receiving them are expected to be temporary, the Administrator advises that existing IMO Resolution A.810(19) compliant EPIRBs (those installed before 1 July 2022) may continue to be used by replacing the battery prior to its expiry date until such time as they can no longer be maintained and are retired.

If an IMO Resolution MSC.471(101) compliant EPIRB is unavailable for installation after 1 July 2022, an IMO Resolution A.810(19) compliant EPIRB may be installed and used until such time an IMO Resolution MSC.471(101) compliant EPIRB becomes available.

This substitution will be allowed through 31 December 2023 by the Administrator with written documentation showing the unavailability of the new EPIRB.

Non-SOLAS vessels may install either IMO Resolution A.810(19) or IMO Resolution MSC.471(101) compliant EPIRBs.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):

Unavailability of New Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons

MSC.471(101): Performance Standards for Float-Free Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBS) Operating on 406 MHz

A.810(19): Performance Standards for Float-Free Satellite Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) Operating on 406 Mhz