EPIRB distress beacons become compulsory on commercial fishing vessels from 1 January in New Zealand


Photo Credit: Maritime NZ


The New Zealand’s national regulatory, compliance and response agency for the safety, security and environmental protection of coastal and inland waterways, MaritimeNZ, reminds New Zealand operators that they must install float-free EPIRB distress beacons on commercial fishing vessels by 1 January 2019. The regulation applies to vessels between 7.5 meters and 24 meters operating outside enclosed waters.


Domonic Venz, Maritime NZ’s Assistant Compliance Manager for Southern Region, who has an experience on commercial fishing, says float-free EPIRBs really do increase your chances of survival because they call for help when you can’t. It’s easy to get one on your boat, he says. “Undoubtedly, float-free EPIRBs will save lives. We all know the sea can be an unforgiving mistress: you’re a minuscule speck, a needle in the proverbial haystack. You’ll be glad that you installed that float-free beacon, which calls for help when you can’t”.


A float-free auto-activating EPIRB can send a call for help within minutes of being submerged in water, without any action by the crew. Float-free EPIRBs offer significant safety advantages for crew and passengers on vessels in distress.


Compulsory float-free EPIRBs are supported by the industry. The requirement was introduced following the deaths of 24 people over the last 11 years on inshore fishing boats that sank with manual EPIRBs on board that were unable to be deployed.


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