Distress Beacons Save Lives!

With the holiday season underway, it is timely to remind you that if you are venturing into remote waters, or participating in recreational activities on the water, you must carry a distress beacon.

It is important to know that the old analogue beacons will no longer be detected by satellite after 1 February 2009. This is an international decision and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has been providing information about the switch over for the past 8 years.

Digital technology provides AMSA with a faster notification and more accurate location enabling a quicker response to your distress situation. To ensure your life and the lives of your family are safe during recreational activities this summer, it is essential to upgrade to a 406 MHz distress beacon immediately.

If you continue to rely upon a 121.5 MHz analogue beacon in a distress situation after 1 February 2009 - rescue authorities may never hear you.

406 MHz beacons must be registered with AMSA. Registration is free and can be done on-line at the AMSA web site.

When upgrading to a 406 MHz distress beacon it is essential that old analogue models are appropriately disabled and disposed of responsibly so that they do not trigger false searches. Battery World shops provide free disposal.

I wish all of you - a safe and happy holiday season.

More advice about distress beacons is available from the AMSA web site: www.amsa.gov.au or by calling 1800 406 406.