Metropolitan EPIRB Exemption Zone being removed 1st Jan 2014.

Government of Western Australia
Department of Transport
Follow us @TransportWAnews or @MarineSafetyWA

140 William Street, Perth, Western Australia 6000

Tel: (08) 6551 6000 Fax: (08) 6551 6001 www.transport.wa.gov.au ABN 27 285 643 255
wa.gov.au

Media Statement
140 William Street, Perth, WA 6000
GPO Box C102, Perth, WA 6839
T (08) 6551 6000
www.transport.wa.gov.au

September 23, 2013
For immediate release
New EPIRB laws will help save lives
All skippers navigating more than two nautical miles off the metropolitan coast will need an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) from January next year.
Department of Transport (DoT) Marine Safety General Manager David Harrod said the Metropolitan EPIRB Exempt Zone extending from Garden Island to Mindarie Keys and out to Rottnest would be abolished.
Mr Harrod said from January 1, 2014 new consistent State-wide marine laws would require skippers throughout WA to carry an EPIRB when operating more than two nautical miles from the coast or more than 400 metres from an island located more than two nautical miles from the mainland shore.
Mr Harrod said recent improvements in EPIRBs had seen authorities question the continued operation of the exemption zone.
“New generation EPIRBs provide exact location coordinates greatly enhancing the chance of rescue and survival in an emergency on the water,” Mr Harrod said.
“EPIRBs can significantly reduce the time it takes to rescue people and on the water this can be the difference between life and death.
“The cost of the potentially life saving device is also significantly less now with the cost of carrying an EPIRB, which has a six year battery life, less than $5 a trip if a vessel is taken more than two nautical miles offshore 10 times a year on average.
“Removal of the exemption zone also reduces confusion amongst skippers by providing consistent boundaries for mandatory carriage of an EPIRB throughout WA.”
In February last year the State Coroner recommended the reduction or removal of the EPIRB exempt area after investigating the death of a man while boating off Two Rocks in April 2010.
Mr Harrod said DoT had received widespread support from recreational boating groups and relevant authorities to amend current marine laws.
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“DoT recorded 85 recreational boating incidents in the EPIRB exempt zone between 2008 and
2012 reinforcing the need for EPIRBS to become mandatory to provide rapid and accurate
location information to rescue authorities,” Mr Harrod said
“There is undisputed evidence that carriage of an EPIRB can save lives in an emergency on
the water.”
There are now more than 52,000 registered recreational vessels in the metropolitan area and
it’s estimated up to 20 per cent will need an EPIRB following the introduction of the new laws.
Currently 44,300 EPIRBS are registered in WA which accounts for 20 per cent of the national
total.
DoT has produced a special brochure to assist skippers purchasing and registering an EPIRB.
Download a copy at www.transport.wa.gov.au/epirbs or contact the marine safety hotline on
1300 863 308.
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 0408 098 220
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/about-us/MAR_P_2013_09_23_EPIRB_exempt_zone_revoked_ms.pdf
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/marine/MAC_P_Epirbs.pdf

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Tradewind's picture

Posts: 756

Date Joined: 18/09/12

When the price comes down

Tue, 2013-09-24 10:58

When the price comes down more I'd like to see the GPS models being the required units