Marine safety specialists ACR Electronics and Ocean Signal have announced the development of next generation EPIRBs which meet upcoming standards and incorporate more features to significantly enhance the chance of rescue in an emergency
Introducing integrated AIS (Automatic Identification System) within their EPIRBs for the first time in conjunction with further new technology, ACR and Ocean Signal will launch the advanced beacons this year ahead of the enforcement of new updated IMO Maritime Safety Committee EPIRB regulations.
The new IMO rules, effective from July 1, 2022, state that vessels under SOLAS regulations will have to fit a new EPIRB with an internal AIS locating signal and an internal GNSS receiver, along with the 406MHz and 121.5MHz transmitters, when current devices are due for replacement.
Recreational boats and other non-SOLAS vessels can continue to install the EPIRBs permitted under their national regulations, with many countries expected to enforce the IMO AIS EPIRB mandate in one to two years’ time due to the life-saving benefits offered by these new beacons.
“We are delighted to confirm that ACR Electronics and Ocean Signal are in the final stages of developing and testing next generation EPIRBs which will offer much more than the newly mandated technology,” says Mikele D’Arcangelo, VP of global marketing and product management for ACR Electronics.
]For those affected by the IMO AIS EPIRB mandate and for any boaters who want the additional reassurance of AIS or to ensure they meet future regulations, ACR’s latest EPIRBs will be ready for the July 2022 deadline, D’Arcangelo says.
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