Part A – GENERAL
1 INTRODUCTION
The emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) should, in addition to meeting
the requirements of the Radio Regulations, the relevant ITU-R Recommendations and
the general requirements set out in resolution A.694(17), comply with the following
performance standards.
2 GENERAL
2.1 The EPIRB should be capable of transmitting a distress alert, including encoded
position information from a receiver using a recognised global navigation satellite
system (GNSS) with global coverage, to satellites equipped with a search and rescue
406 MHz processor or repeater.
2.2 The EPIRB should be of an automatic float-free type. The equipment, mounting and
releasing arrangements should be reliable, and should operate satisfactorily under
the most extreme conditions likely to be met with at sea.
2.3 The EPIRB should:
-
.1 be fitted with adequate means to prevent inadvertent activation;
-
.2 be so designed that the electrical portions are watertight at a depth of
10 m for at least 5 min. Consideration should be given to a temperature
variation of 45°C during transitions from the mounted position to immersion.
The harmful effects of a marine environment, condensation and water leakage
should not affect the performance of the beacon;
-
.3 be automatically activated after floating free;
-
.4 be capable of manual activation and deactivation;
-
.5 be provided with means to indicate that signals are being emitted;
-
.6 be capable of floating upright in calm water and have positive stability
and sufficient buoyancy in all sea conditions;
-
.7 be capable of being dropped into the water without damage from a height of
20 m;
-
.8 be capable of being tested, without using the satellite system, to
determine that the EPIRB is capable of operating properly;
-
.9 be of highly visible yellow/orange colour and be fitted with
retroreflecting material;
-
.10 be equipped with a buoyant lanyard suitable for use as a tether (to a
liferaft, lifeboat or person in the water but not to the ship), which should
be so arranged as to prevent its being trapped in the ship's structure when
floating free;
-
.11 be provided with a low duty cycle light (0.75 cd), active during
darkness, visible to the human eye and detectable by all types of night
vision devices, to indicate its position to nearby survivors and to rescue
units;
-
.12 not be unduly affected by seawater or oil or both;
-
.13 be resistant to deterioration in prolonged exposure to sunlight;
-
.14 be provided with a 121.5 MHz beacon primarily for homing by aircraft;
-
.15 be provided with a GNSS receiver for position fixes and an associated
indication that GNSS signal reception is satisfactory or unsatisfactory;
and
-
.16 be provided with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) locating signal
in accordance with the Recommendation ITU-R M.1371, Technical
characteristics for an automatic identification system using time division
multiple access in the VHF maritime mobile frequency band.
2.4 The battery should have sufficient capacity to operate the EPIRB for a period of
at least 48 h.
2.5 The EPIRB should be so designed as to operate under any of the following
environmental conditions:
-
.1 ambient temperatures of -20°C to +55°C;
-
.2 icing;
-
.3 relative wind speeds up to 100 knots; and
-
.4 after stowage, at temperatures between -30°C and +70°C.
2.6 The installed EPIRB should:
-
.1 have local manual activation; remote activation may also be provided from
the navigating bridge, while the device is installed in the float-free
mounting;
-
.2 be capable, while mounted on board, of operating properly over the ranges
of shock and vibration and other environmental conditions normally
encountered above deck on seagoing ships; and
-
.3 be designed to release itself and float free before reaching a depth of 4
m at a list or trim of any angle.
3 DISTRESS FUNCTION
3.1 When the EPIRB is manually operated a distress alert should be initiated only by
means of a dedicated distress alert activator.
3.2 The dedicated activator should:
3.3 Manual distress alert initiation should require at least two independent
actions.
3.4 The EPIRB should not be automatically activated after being manually removed from
the release mechanism.
4 GNSS RECEIVER POSITION REPORTING
When the EPIRB is activated:
-
.1 the GNSS position fix shall be updated at intervals of no more than five
minutes; and
-
.2 when an updated fix is transmitted in the AIS message for the first time,
the error between the transmitted and the actual position shall not exceed
30 m assuming a drift rate of 3 kn.
5 LABELLING
5.1 Labelling for operation controls and indicators should, as far as possible, be
understood through graphical images and symbols without the need for text.
5.2 In addition to the items specified in resolution A.694(17) on general
requirements, the following should be clearly indicated on the exterior of the
equipment:
-
.1 brief operating instructions;
-
.2 expiry date for the primary battery used; and
-
.3 the identity codes programmed into the transmitters.
Part B – RADIO-FREQUENCY SIGNALS
1 The technical characteristics of the transmitted signal and the message format
should be in accordance with the requirements of Cospas-Sarsat System documents C/S
T.001 or C/S T.018.
2 Provisions should be included for storing the fixed portion of the distress message
in the EPIRB using non-volatile memory.
3 A unique beacon identification code should be made part of all 406 MHz messages.
For EPIRBs compliant with C/S T.001 this identification code should include a
three-digit maritime identification digits (MID) code to denote the country in which
the beacon is registered, followed by either:
-
.1 the trailing 6 digits of the ship station identity in accordance with
appendix 43 of ITU Radio Regulations Recommendation ITU-R M.585, Assignment
and use of identities in the maritime mobile service; or
-
.2 a unique serial number; or
-
.3 a radio call sign.
Preference is given to the method in sub-paragraph .1 above.
For EPIRBs compliant with C/S T.018 this identification code should include a
three-digit maritime identification digits (MID) code to denote the country in which
the beacon is registered, followed by a unique serial number and either the maritime
mobile service identity or a radio call sign.
4 The 121.5 MHz homing signal should:
-
.1 have a 121.5 MHz transmitting duty cycle not less than 50% (1.125 seconds
on, 1.125 seconds off) and if more than 50%, the on time should be increased
beyond 1.125 seconds and the off time reduced accordingly; and
-
.2 with the exception of the sweep direction, meet the technical
characteristics of appendix 15 of the Radio Regulations. The sweep may be
either upward or downward.
5 The AIS locating signal should:
-
.1 transmit in accordance with recommendation ITU-R Rec M.1371;
-
.2 start after the first 406 MHz satellite message and ensure the AIS signal
does not conflict with a scheduled 406 MHz satellite signal;
-
.3 when the AIS signal coincides with a scheduled 121.5 MHz homing signal,
then the 121.5 MHz homing signal may be interrupted for the transmission of
the AIS signal, provided the minimum 50% duty cycle is maintained;
-
.4 broadcast the Cospas-Sarsat beacon 15 HEX-ID in the AIS message 14,
alternating with the text " "EPIRB ACTIVE" on AIS1 and AIS2; and
-
.5 indicate in the transmitted AIS locating signal when the included position
fix is more than five minutes old.
Part C –TYPE APPROVAL OF EPIRBs OPERATING IN THE Cospas-Sarsat SYSTEM
1 EPIRBs forming an integral component of the GMDSS and operating through the
Cospas-Sarsat satellite system in the frequency band 406 - 406.1 MHz should be type
approved to ensure the integrity of the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system, avoid
harmful interference to the spaceborne equipment, exclude unauthorized
transmissions, and to provide reliable data to rescue coordination centres.
2 National administrations should:
-
.1 ensure, as part of national type approval procedures, that any new type of
EPIRB to be deployed on board ships is tested to confirm that it is in
accordance with the performance standards for EPIRBs; confirmation that the
EPIRB meets part B of this performance standard can be achieved by
either:
-
.1 performing, or having performed, under national procedures, all
appropriate tests; and/or
-
.2 accepting type approval test results obtained through the
Cospas-Sarsat type approval procedure for first generation beacons
(Cospas-Sarsat document C/S T.007) or the Cospas-Sarsat type
approval procedure for second generation beacons (Cospas-Sarsat
document C/S T.021) and confirmed by the delivery of a Cospas-Sarsat
Type Approval Certificate; and
-
.2 encourage national type approval authorities to develop test procedures
compatible, to the extent possible, with Cospas-Sarsat System document C/S
T.007 or C/S T.021 as appropriate and, if necessary, in consultation with
the Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat.