EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT... PERSONAL EMERGENCY DEVICES

Playing the starring role in a man overboard situation (MOB) or experiencing a serious injury at sea might not happen very often but when it does, the outcome is rarely a happy one.

- Adam Fiander

Which device should you choose?

The Marine Accident Investigation Bureau's (MAIB) statistics show that almost half (47%) of MOB occurrences from pleasure craft result in a fatality. But while commercial vessels are legally required to carry satellite-based life-saving communications equipment on board, leisure craft have no obligation to, even though the same technology is available to them, often at surprisingly affordable prices.

What devices are available?

There are four main types of emergency device: PLB, EPIRB, AIS MSLD and SATCOMS.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is a small, portable device that when activated will transmit a distress signal and a GPS location, alerting rescue services to the emergency and enabling them to find you. Because it sends the signal via the global satellite network, it can be used anywhere on land or at sea.

An Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) is similar to a PLB but larger and often fitted to a boat or ship rather than carried on a person’s body, although portable versions are available. EPIRBs transmit for at least 48 hours and some include an AIS transmitter as well.

An Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitter uses VHF radio waves to send details of the user's identity, location and speed and direction of travel to other AIS receivers. This is primarily used as a marine navigation tool, helping craft to ‘see’ and identify other vessels in the area even when out of sight. A compact version of this, called an AIS MSLD (Marine Safety Location Device), uses the same technology to alert nearby craft of a man overboard situation. This is often attached to a lifejacket and triggers automatically when the bladder is inflated. AIS signals can be received by any vessel with an AIS receiver within VHF radio signal range.