Accidental activations of EPIRBs/distress alerts

3 years ago
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Woylie
Woylie
WA
43 posts
WA, 43 posts
23 Mar 2023 11:03pm
I couldn't see that this has been discussed here. I saw it in the Australian Sailing newsletter.

"Annually 428 inadvertent PLB [EPIRB/PLB/DSC] activations occur in Australia... The Ocean Racing Club of Victoria (ORCV) Special Investigations Group (SIG) has investigated thirteen specific inadvertent activations"

www.orcv.org.au/docman-link/2022-racing/3985-orcv-sig-report-inadvertant-distress-beacon-activations/file

The person putting their foot on the DSC mayday switch would be buying beers for a while I suspect.
Serb1980
Serb1980
396 posts
396 posts
24 Mar 2023 3:44pm
So what is going to happen if epirb is accidentally activated?
Bananabender
Bananabender
QLD
1610 posts
QLD, 1610 posts
24 Mar 2023 6:07pm
Serb1980 said..
So what is going to happen if epirb is accidentally activated?

Have a read.
beacons.amsa.gov.au/activation/
Subsonic
Subsonic
WA
3428 posts
WA, 3428 posts
24 Mar 2023 6:30pm
It should've been and hopefully was expected.

PLB's have become a legal necessity in a lot of waterborne sports now. An epirb/plb is no longer a sole facet to ships/boats going well offshore for long periods of time. There's a lot more out there, by decree of the governing authorities. They can no longer count the possibility of accidental activations on their fingers.


not to say we shouldn't all be careful with them an do all we can to prevent them going off accidentally. Their current advice of get on the phone if you accidentally activate one, no penalty seems quite reasonable.
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