Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)


An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is a safety device carried by a ship to alert search and rescue services and indicate the location of the ship when it is in distress. The EPIRB is designed to transmit a coded message on the 406 MHz distress frequency via satellite and earth stations to the nearest rescue co-ordination center. Some EPIRBs also have built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) which allows the rescue services to accurately locate the ship to within 50 meters. In a maritime context, the EPIRB is typically housed in a bracket on the ship's bridge or other accessible location, and it should be manually activated in an emergency situation. However, most EPIRBs are designed to automatically activate if they are in water, for instance, if the ship sinks. The EPIRB is an essential piece of safety equipment and is mandatory on all commercial seagoing vessels that are governed by the International Maritime Organization's Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention.


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