Leopard Catamarans 40 - 2-6.6 Epirb; 2-6.7 Distress Signals

2-6 BoatingSafety | 27
ALLPYROTECHNICDEVICESSHOULD
BESTOREDINAWELLMARKED
WATERPROOFCONTAINERKEPTINA
DRY LOCATION
Pyrotechnicdeviceshavingadate
showingtheusefulservicelifemustbe
withinthespeciedusagedateindicated.
Allexpiredpyrotechnicdevicesmustbe
replaced.
Non-pyrotechnicdevicesinclude
• Anorangedistressagwhichmust
beaminimumof3x3feetwitha
blacksquareandballonanorange
background
• Electricdistresslightwhich
automaticallyashesthe
international distress signal SOS
(…---…)
• CodeagsN(November)&C
(Charlie)ownNoverC
• USagownupsidedown
• Dyemarkers
ITISTHEOWNERORSKIPPER’S
RESPONSIBILITYTOENSURETHAT
PASSENGERSANDCREWAREAWARE
OFTHELOCATIONOFALLSAFETY
EQUIPMENTANDAREINSTRUCTEDIN
THECORRECTMETHODSOFUSAGE.
Audible distress signals
USCoastGuardRegulationsrequireat
leastoneaudiblehornorwhistlewhichis
audibleforatleastonehalfmile
Typicalaudibledevicesinclude:
• Powerormouthoperatedhorn
• Whistle
• Bell
It is the Skipper / Owner’s
responsibility to ensure that all crew &
guests are aware of the location and
correct use of all safety equipment
including life jackets and other PFD’s.
They must also ensure that all PFD’s
are kept in good serviceable condition
at all times.
2-6.6 EPIRB
Itisstronglyrecommendedthatallvessels
shouldbeequippedwithasatelliteEPIRB.
EPIRB’s(406MHz)aredesignedto
quicklyandreliablyalertrescuepersonnel,
indicateanaccuratedistresspositionand
guiderescueunitstothedistressscene,
evenwhenallothercommunicationsfail.
WhenactivatedanEPIRBtransmitsa
distress signal via the satellite to the
responsibleUSCoastGuardor
internationalrescueco-ordinationcentre.
TheEPIRBalsotransmitsanimmediate
GPSpositiontotherescueco-ordination
centre(RCC).
MounttheEPIRBtooatfreeaccordingto
themanufacturer’sinstructions.EPIRB
registrationisrequired.
2-6.7 DISTRESS SIGNALS
Allvesselsusedoncoastalwatersand
thehighseasmustbeequippedwith
USCGapprovedvisualdistresssignals.
Pyrotechnicdevicesinclude
• Redares,handheldoraerial
• Orangesmokeare,handheldor
oating
• Redmeteororparachuteares
• Whitehandheldares
Thetypeandqualityofaresrequiredmust
beestablishedaccordingtotheregulations
applicabletotheareaofoperationofthe
vessel,ortherequirementsofthecountryof
registrationofthevessel.