Module 9 - GMDSS & Safety Equipment
EPIRB and PLB Registration
MCA MGN 665 Amendment 1 requires EPIRBs and 406 MHz PLBs fitted or carried on UK-registered ships, hovercraft and in-scope watercraft to be registered with the UK 406 MHz Beacon Registry. The registration requirement is separate from any rule that determines whether a particular vessel must carry a beacon.
Registration links the beacon identity to vessel or owner details, emergency contacts and useful voyage information. When a satellite alert arrives, current records help rescue authorities identify the casualty, plan an appropriate response and distinguish a real emergency from an accidental activation.
Update the record when the vessel, owner, contacts or beacon allocation changes. Confirm the hexadecimal identity on the beacon agrees with the registration and equipment documents. A registration certificate does not replace battery, bracket, hydrostatic release, self-test or physical-condition checks.
| Question | What it establishes | What it does not establish |
|---|---|---|
| Must this craft carry a beacon? | Applicable carriage rule and voyage assessment | Whether an existing beacon is registered |
| Must this carried beacon be registered? | Current registration duty for the craft and device | That the beacon is serviceable |
| Are the details current? | Useful rescue identity and contacts | That the crew can deploy it |
Optional quick check
Section 5 of 10
What does current UK beacon registration prove?
Sources and factual review
Reviewed 20 August 2026 - Compass Revision editorial review.
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