47 C.F.R. Subpart V—Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRB's)
Title 47 - Telecommunication
This subpart describes the technical and performance requirements for Classes A, B, and S, and Categories 1, 2, and 3 EPIRB stations. [68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003] Class A EPIRBs shall not be manufactured, imported, or sold in the United States on or after February 1, 2003. Operation of Class A EPIRB stations shall be prohibited after December 31, 2006. New Class A EPIRBs will no longer be certified by the Commission. Existing Class A EPIRBs must be operated as certified. [68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003] Class B EPIRBs shall not be manufactured, imported, or sold in the United States on or after February 1, 2003. Operation of Class B EPIRB stations shall be prohibited after December 31, 2006. New Class B EPIRBs will no longer be certified by the Commission. Existing Class B EPIRBs must be operated as certified. [68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003]
Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 80—STATIONS IN THE MARITIME SERVICES
Subpart V—Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRB's)
§ 80.1051 Scope.
§ 80.1053 Special requirements for Class A EPIRB stations.
§ 80.1055 Special requirements for Class B EPIRB stations.
§ 80.1057 [Reserved]
§ 80.1059 Special requirements for Class S EPIRB stations.
Class S EPIRBs shall not be manufactured, imported, or sold in the United States on or after February 1, 2003. Operation of Class S EPIRB stations shall be prohibited after December 31, 2006. New Class S EPIRBs will no longer be certified by the Commission. Existing Class S EPIRBs must be operated as certified.
[68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003]
§ 80.1061 Special requirements for 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB stations.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section, 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRBs must meet all the technical and performance standards contained in the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services document entitled RTCM Paper 77–02/SC110–STD, “RTCM Recommended Standards for 406 MHz Satellite Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs),” Version 2.1, dated June 20, 2002 (RTCM Recommended Standards). The RTCM Recommended Standards are incorporated by reference. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51. Copies of the RTCM Recommended Standards can be inspected at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC (Reference Information Center) or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. The RTCM Recommended Standards can be purchased from the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, 1800 Diagonal Road, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone 703–684–4481; Fax 703–684–4229; email [email protected].
(b) The 406.0–406.1 EPIRB must contain as an integral part a “homing” beacon operating only on 121.500 MHz that meets all the requirements described in the RTCM Recommended Standards document described in paragraph (a) of this section. The 121.500 MHz “homing” beacon must have a continuous duty cycle that may be interrupted during the transmission of the 406.0–406.1 MHz signal only. Additionally, at least 30 percent of the total power emitted during any transmission cycle must be contained within plus or minus 30 Hz of the carrier frequency.
(c) Prior to submitting a certification application for a 406.0–406.1 MHz radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must be certified by a test facility recognized by one of the COSPAS/SARSAT Partners that the equipment satisfies the design characteristics associated with the measurement methods described in Appendix B of the RTCM Recommended Standards. Additionally, the radiobeacon must be certified by a test facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard to certify that the equipment complies with the U.S. Coast Guard environmental and operational requirements associated with the test procedures described in Appendix A of the RTCM Recommended Standards. Information regarding the recognized test facilities may be obtained from Commandant (G-MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street SW, Washington, DC 20593–0001.
(1) After a 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB has been certified by the recognized test facilities the following information must be submitted in duplicate to the Commandant (G-MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street SW, Washington, DC 20593–0001:
(i) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and model number of the EPIRB;
(ii) Copies of the certificate and test data obtained from the test facility recognized by a COPAS/SARSAT Partner showing that the radiobeacon complies with the COSPAS/SARSAT design characteristics associated with the measurement methods described in Appendix B of the RTCM Recommended Standards;
(iii) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard showing that the radiobeacon complies with the U.S. Coast Guard environmental and operational characteristics associated with the measurement methods described in Appendix A of the RTCM Recommended Standards; and
(iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description of the test characteristics of the radiobeacon including assembly drawings, electrical schematics, description of parts list, specifications of materials and the manufacturer's quality assurance program.
(2) After reviewing the information described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards.
(d) A certification application for a 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB submitted to the Commission must also contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter that states the radiobeacon satisfies all RTCM Recommended Standards, a copy of the technical test data, and the instruction manual(s).
(e) An identification code, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Program Manager for the 406.025 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be programmed in each EPIRB unit to establish a unique identification for each EPIRB station. With each marketable EPIRB unit, the manufacturer or grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card printed with the EPIRB identification code addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, E/SP3, Federal Building 4, Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746–4304. The registration card must request the owner's name, address, telephone number, type of ship, alternate emergency contact and other information as required by NOAA. The registration card must also contain information regarding the availability to register the EPIRB at NOAA's online web-based registration database at: http://www/beaconregistration.noaa.gov. In addition, the following statement must be included: “WARNING—failure to register this EPIRB with NOAA before installation could result in a monetary forfeiture being issued to the owner.”
(f) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that each 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB be registered with NOAA before installation and that information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the identification plate or label requirements contained in §§2.925 and 2.926 of this chapter, each 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB must be provided on the outside with a clearly discernible permanent plate or label containing the following statement: “The owner of this 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB must register the NOAA identification code contained on this label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) whose address is: NOAA, NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, E/SP3, Federal Building 4, Room 3320, 5200 Auth Road, Suitland, MD 20746–4304.” Vessel owners shall advise NOAA in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB ownership, transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in registration information. NOAA will provide registrants with proof of registration and change of registration postcards.
(g) For 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRBs whose identification code can be changed after manufacture, the identification code shown on the plate or label must be easily replaceable using commonly available tools.
[68 FR 46974, Aug. 7, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 64678, Nov. 8, 2004]
§ 80.1063 Special requirements for INMARSAT–E EPIRB stations.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph (b) of this section, INMARSAT–E EPIRBs must meet all the technical and performance standards contained in IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0, titled “Global maritime and distress safety system (GMDSS)—Part 5: INMARSAT–E—Emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) operating through the INMARSAT system—Operational and performance requirements, methods of testing and required test results,” including Annexes A, B, and C, 1997. IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0, including Annexes A, B, and C, is incorporated by reference (see §80.1101).
(b) Prior to submitting a certification application for an INMARSAT–E radiobeacon, the radiobeacon must be certified by INMARSAT as complying with IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0. In addition, the radiobeacon must be tested as to compliance with the environmental and operational requirements identified in this paragraph (b) by the test facility which conducted the INMARSAT certification tests, or a test facility recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard. Information regarding recognized test facilities may be obtained from Commandant (G–MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, D.C. 20593–0001, http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mse/lablist/161.011.htm.
(1) After an INMARSAT–E PIRB has been certified by the test facility, the following information must be submitted in duplicate to the Commandant (G–MSE), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington D.C. 20593–0001:
(i) The name of the manufacturer or grantee and the model number of the radiobeacon;
(ii) Copies of the Inmarsat certification of compliance with IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0;
(iii) Copies of the test report and test data obtained from the test facility showing that the radiobeacon complies with IEC 61097–5 Ed. 1.0 and the environmental and operational requirements identified in this paragraph (b); and
(iv) Instruction manuals associated with the radiobeacon, description of the test characteristics of the radiobeacon including assembly drawings, electrical schematics, description of parts list, specifications of materials, and the manufacturer's quality assurance program.
(2) After reviewing the information described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the U.S. Coast Guard will issue a letter stating whether the radiobeacon satisfies all of the requirements specified in paragrpahs (a) and (b) of this section.
(c) A certification application for an INMARSAT–EPIRB submitted to the Commission must also contain a copy of the U.S. Coast Guard letter stating that the radiobeacon satisfies all of the requirements specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, a copy of the technical test data, and the instruction manual(s).
(d) The manufacturer or grantee must include with each marketable INMARSAT–E EPIRB appropriate material for registration of the radiobeacon with INMARSAT, along with a written warning that failure to register the radiobeacon could delay rescue services in an emergency.
(e) To enhance protection of life and property it is mandatory that each INMARSAT–E EPIRB be registered with INMARSAT before installation and that information be kept up-to-date. Therefore, in addition to the identification plate or label requirements contained in §§2.925 and 2.926 of this chapter, each INMARSAT–E EPIRB must be provided on the outside with a clearly discernable permanent plate or label containing the following statement: “The owner of this INMARSAT–E EPIRB must register the NOAA identification code contained on this label with INMARSAT at the following address: INMARSAT, 99 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AX, United Kingdom.” Vessel owners shall advise INMARSAT in writing upon change of vessel or EPIRB ownership, transfer of EPIRB to another vessel, or any other change in registration information.
(f) For INMARSAT–E EPIRBs whose identification code can be changed after manufacture, the identification code shown on the plate or label must be easily replaceable using commonly available tools.
[69 FR 64678, Nov. 8, 2004]
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