Enhance your chances with an EPIRB ‘trip plan’

[STGRule]

Sorry if this is old news. I hadn’t known about it.

A little-known option included in 406 EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) registration forms could be a lifesaver. By updating the “Additional Data” section online with trip-specific dates and other information, rescuers will be able to respond more quickly and more appropriately to emergencies at sea.
Charlie Bond, a safety consultant and educator with Ralston Cunningham Associates in the Seattle area, says he’s been filing these “trip plans” for both EPIRBs and PLBs (personal locator beacons) for years. “They greatly enhance rescues,” he says. “The key information is the dates. I’ve learned by talking with the rescue coordination center watch standers that if the dates on the EPIRB registration forms aren’t current, or if it’s undated, they tend to ignore the alert until they get a confirmation.”
But if the “additional data” says the boat is, for example, en route from Seattle to Ketchikan between May 1 and May 4, and the alert arrives May 3, it will be responded to immediately.

EPIRB registration can be updated online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov . Bond says it takes less than five minutes to file a trip plan in the Additional Data section.

[Orca]

I’ve learned by talking with the rescue coordination center watch standers that if the dates on the EPIRB registration forms aren’t current, or if it’s undated, they tend to ignore the alert until they get a confirmation.

Not sure where this comes from, but is not true according to our local USCG, and assuming you have a 406 EPIRB.

Can you imagine the potential liability. "Yes surviving widow, your husband's EPIRB went off, but we didn't bother to respond since someone had mistakenly not entered one of the dates on the registration form at NOAA". "No worries however, we finally went looking 4 hours later when you reported him late from his trip."

The CG will respond as quickly as they can to a 406 EPIRB activation off our shores. I have posted more information below.

[namu mac]

My understanding is that the delay comes in while they try
and get ahold of your contact people to verify that it is indeed an emergency and not a false alarm. By amending your registration with current plans and dates they know approximatly where you are. If it's close to where the are getting a signal bingo quicker response time.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Far better to keep it updated, stack as many cards in your favor as possible.
You just may be very thankful that you did.

[Sweepy]

Thanks for the post,STG

Anything that may save a life is important, some of us new people may not have seen this information before. As I'm getting older I need more reminders.


What were we just talking about?

[Orca]

Response from the USCG Marine Safety Office in Portland - http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat....;Number=190067 :

"Orca" asked about EPIRB response from the Coast Guard. First, it is important to understand the truly fundamental differences between the types of devices out there. If you are talking about the older style of 121.5 MHz, sometimes called a "Mini-B," then the device is transmitting a continuous sweeping tone on an int'l distress freq. This is good for vessels and aircraft with listening and DF capability, and will bring the rescue platform right on top of you. (Note, the 406 MHz EPIRB also has a 121.5 transmitter built-in for direction finding.) The problem is that the mini-B doesn't ID you, and the satellite system takes two consecutive "hits" from different satellites before the system recognizes it as a valid distress signal. This is because of the huge problem of false alerts, and could mean you might have to wait several (read as 3 to 6) hours before a response. This is OK if you are in a raft or a good survival suit, but otherwise...

The 406 MHz is considered a valid distress signal as soon as the first satellite picks up the transmission. The CG isn't going to wait for a verbal MAYDAY on the radio. Likewise, if your wife is at Nordies or M&F, we will still respond. It might mean that the SAR is slightly delayed while we wait for a polar satellite to feed us the lat/long, but we're coming. The assumption with all 406 MHz signals is that we are at full speed (to the best of the data we have available) until a CG person actually puts eyes on the unit and reads back the ID code to Seattle. Toast, no. Cold, maybe, but that's up to you.

And - http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat....;Number=737435 :

OK, I got the word on CG response to EPIRB activations.

They will give a PAN PAN broadcast in the hope that there may be a nearby vessel that can immediately respond. This does not mean that they are waiting to respond. Every EPIRB activation is treated as an immediate distress call and assets (boats/choppers) are launched as soon as a position is made for the activation.

The initial activation may not contain a precise location if the receiving satellite is low on the horizon and headed over the horizon. If the original activation does not have a precise location the CG has to wait for another satellite pass to get a fix on the location. This should only take a few minutes.

If you have a GPS equipped or GPS connected EPIRB, then the position will be available to the CG on the initial activation.

When you light up your EPIRB, the CG will be responding as quickly as possible with the best equipment they have available at the time. They are the Professionals and will respond as such.