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.

Mr Harrod said from January 1 next year, new consistent state-wide marine laws would require skippers throughout Western Australia to carry an EPIRB when operating more than two nautical miles from the coast or more than 400metres 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 which greatly enhances 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 lifesaving 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.

“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 transport.wa.gov.au/epirbs or contact the marine safety hotline on 1300 863 308.