BOATERS MUST NOT OPERATE 121.5/243 MHZ EPIRBs AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2006

In a Press Release, issued today,the Coast Guard reminds all boaters that beginning January 1, 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) are prohibited from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft. Boaters wishing to have an emergency rescue beacon aboard their vessel must have a digital 406 MHz model.

The January 1, 2007, date to stop using 121.5 MHz EPIRBs is in preparation for February 1, 2009, when satellite processing of distress signals from all 121.5/243 MHz beacons will terminate. Following this termination date, only the 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the International Cospas-Sarsat Satellite System which provides distress alert and location data for search and rescue operations around the world.

The regulation applies to all Class A, B, and S 121.5/243 MHz EPIRBs. It does not affect 121.5/243 MHz man overboard devices which are designed to work directly with a base alerting unit only and not with the satellite system.

This change, in large part, was brought about by the unreliability of the 121.5/243 MHz beacons in an emergency situation. Data reveals that with a 121.5 MHz beacon, only one alert out of every 50 is a genuine distress situation. This has a significant effect on expending the limited resources of search and rescue personnel and platforms. With 406 MHz beacons, false alerts have been reduced significantly, and, when properly registered, can usually be resolved with a telephone call to the beacon owner. Consequently, real alerts can receive the attention they deserve.

When a 406 MHz beacon signal is received, search and rescue personnel can retrieve information from a registration database. This includes the beacon owner's contact information, emergency contact information, and vessel/aircraft identifying characteristics. Having this information allows the Coast Guard, or other rescue personnel, to respond appropriately.

In the U.S., users are required by law to directly register their beacon in the U.S. 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database at: http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/ or by calling 1-888-212-SAVE. Other users can register their beacon in their country's national beacon registration database or, if no national database is available, in the International Beacon Registration Database at https://www.406registration.com/.

The United States Coast Guard is the lead agency for coordinating national maritime search and rescue policy and is responsible for providing search and rescue services on, under and over assigned international waters and waters subject to United States jurisdiction.

ILL CAMERAMAN AIRLIFTED FROM LOBSTER BOAT

DATE: December 07, 2006 20:52:59 EST
Document Number: 825
First District Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard





Press Release Date: December 7, 2006

Contact: Petty Officer Etta Smith
(617) 406-9011

ILL CAMERAMAN AIRLIFTED FROM LOBSTER VESSEL

BOSTON - A documentary film cameraman was medically evacuated by a Coast Guard helicopter tonight after reportedly suffering from seasickness about 161 miles east of Nantucket, Mass.

The 36-year old cameraman's condition became serious after two days of sickness aboard fishing vessel Direction of Westport, Mass.

Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England received a distress call over HF radio channel 2182 around 4 p.m. requesting medical evacuation for the ailing cameraman.

An HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launched from Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod and arrived on-scene around 7:45 p.m. Weather conditions at the time of the hoist were four to six-foot seas and winds from 15-20 knots.

The cameraman was hoisted from the 77-foot fishing vessel and is scheduled to be flown to Hyannis Barnstable Airport to be transferred to EMS.

USS INTREPID SETS SAIL

Well it looks as though the efforts to free the Intrepid from her berth at Pier 56 in Manhattan have been successful! We will follow up on this post later on, including, we hope, some photos.

Aircraft Carrier Intrepid to be Moved on December 5

Since November 6th, when the first attempt to move the WWII carrier failed, extensive dredging around the stern of the U.S.S Intrepid has taken place. It is hoped that on high tide , Tuesday, December 5th, she will be freed tugs and moved 5 miles downriver to Bayonne, N.J. There, she will undergo a major overhaul. A link to the Earthcam is here. The Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum has issued a full Press Release .