'We don't want calls to landfill sites!' Rescue Authorities

8:59 PM Tue 27 Jan 2009 GMT

'406 EPIRB - photo by Connie Terrell' .

Maritime agencies are warning sailors to dispose of their 121.5MHz transmitters responsibly so that rescuers will not be called to false alarms in landfill sites for rescues

All boat owners need to be reminded they must upgrade their analogue radio beacons by 1 February if they are to remain safe at sea.

A campaign has been warning sailors that from February 1 2009, the distress signal from any analogue EPIRB will not be tracked by satellites.

'We still have people calling us about changing the batteries on their old EPIRBs, said one campaigner. 'Boat owners with one of these beacons will need to upgrade to 406MHz technology immediately.'

The changes are being made because the commonly-used 121.5MHz transmitters so frequently give out false alerts and rescue services are having to verify each signal, causing delays that are putting lives at risk.

Stuart Carruthers, cruising manager from the UK's Royal Yachting Association, put the organisation behind the campaign, saying: 'It is vitally important that people check their beacons - now. From a safety point of view, this is paramount.'

They are also reminding boat owners that when they do upgrade, the old equipment should be disposed of responsibly to avoid the chance of false alarms calling emergency rescue teams to landfill sites...

by BW Media

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'We don't want calls to landfill sites!' Rescue Authorities

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