Instruction manual

PROFICIENCY IN SURVIVAL CRAFT AND RESCUE BOATS OTHER THAN
FAST RESCUE BOATS
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12.3.2.3 if installed before 4 November 1994, Assembly Resolution A.763(18),
except that they need not be provided with the 121.5 MHz homing beacon
required by 2.3.14 of part A thereof.
If operating on the INMARSAT system the EPIRB should conform with:
12.3.2.1 if installed on or after 23 November 1996, Assembly Resolution
A.812(19); or
12.3.2.2 if installed before 23 November 1996, Assembly Resolution
A.661(16).
Testing of equipment
Satellite EPIRBs are provided with a ‘self-test’ facility which a surveyor
may wish to activate.
Should the beacon ‘fail’ the ‘self-test’ it must be withdrawn from service.
The EPIRB should not be removed from its float-free arrangements other than
by an appropriately qualified engineer.
Siting of equipment
The installed EPIRB should be located in such a position that:
- upon foundering, it will automatically float free from the ship without
hindrance from any item of equipment or superstructure;
- objects, especially those within 1 metre of the antenna which cause
a shadow sector or greater than 2 degrees, are likely to significantly degrade
the antenna performance of the equipment; and
- it may be easily released manually and brought to the survival
craft.
Surveyors should pay particular attention to requirement .1 and great care
should be taken when assessing the appropriateness, or otherwise, of the
location adopted. Under no circumstances should this requirement be
compromised to fulfil any additional functions the EPIRB may be required to
perform. Where this is not practicable using a single EPIRB, additional
equipment should be provided.
Float free arrangements
The float free release and activation arrangements should comply with
the performance standards adopted by the IMO through Assembly Resolution
A.662(16).
The float free arrangements should carry a label indicating clearly the
operating instructions for manual release.
The installed EPIRB should be capable of local manual activation
(remote activation may also be provided from the navigating bridge) while the
device is installed in the float-free mounting.