12
Chapter 2
EPIRB
It is recommended that you carry
communication gear such as a
VHF-FM and/or HF transceivers
set up for your operating area.
Also, cell phones are useful in
many coastal areas. Be sure to
carry extra batteries. Also, mainly
for offshore vessels, EPIRBs are
designed to quickly and accurately
alert rescue forces, indicate an
accurate distress position, and guide units to a distress scene.
These devices operate from satellite signals sent to a ground
station where the signal is downloaded. The downside
is that they are relatively expensive but they are reliable
even when other communications have been exhausted.
Category 1 and 11 EPIRB’s used in American waters must
be registered with NOAA. Category 1 is an automatic
deployment type and 11 is manually activated. Another
Category called a “B” EPIRB or “Mini B” is currently
being phased out.
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