| Public Affairs Detachment San Diego, Calif. U.S. Coast Guard |
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| News Release |
Date: Jan. 13, 2009 Contact: PADET San Diego, CA |
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Search and rescue beacons might not work after Feb. 1 SAN DIEGO -- The Coast Guard would like to remind boaters that beginning Feb. 1, only digital 406 MHz emergency beacons will be monitored. Analog 121.5/243 MHz beacons will no longer be detected after Feb. 1 and boaters using these beacons are advised to replace them with digital 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible. This change will affect all maritime beacons, including emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), as well as personal locator beacons (PLBs). The Coast Guard also urges boaters to properly and accurately register their 406 MHz beacons as the information gathered from the registration database can aid search and rescue crews in an emergency situation. Cospas-Sarsat, the international organization that monitors emergency beacons, reports that the switch from the analog 121.5/243 MHz beacon to the digital 406 MHz beacon will offer many advantages to search and rescue agencies including relaying a distress position quicker, with more reliability and with greater accuracy. The Coast Guard strongly recommends that all boaters file a float plan with a friend or family member on land, with an approximate time of return and location to which you will be heading and to consider the weather condition before getting underway. For a float plan template, go to http://www.floatplancentral.org. Mariners should check current and forecasted weather conditions prior to getting underway, and remain aware of changing conditions once on the water. The National Weather Service broadcasts weather conditions throughout the day on VHF channel WX2. The Coast Guard broadcasts weather conditions on VHF channel 22A at 9:30 a.m., noon, and 4:30 p.m. For more information about the 121.5/243 MHz beacon phaseout see: http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/firstpage/121.5phaseout.htm
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