Personal locator beacon for boats (PLB)
EASY RESCUE EchoPilot

There is now a confusing array of Personal Beacons, each with their own advantages.

AIS-SART’s enable any AIS equipped vessel to find a MOB victim.

MOB alarms alert the crew when a member goes too far from the master unit.

DSC Portable radios enable the coastguard to fix the position of the victim if he is in range.

EPIRBs transmit the position via satellite (when they pass) to the authorities.

A vessel well crewed in the mid Atlantic could use an AIS-SART, maybe backed up with a proximity MOB alarm if there was likely to only be one person on watch.

A single handed yachtsman might be better of with an EPIRB, and both should ideally carry an EPIRB in the liferaft.

In coastal waters, particularly if well crewed an AIS SART will not only enable the victim’s own boat find him but also any other AIS equipped boat nearby will be able to assist too.

So the final decision should be based on :-

· The area sailed in.
· The number and strength of crew.
· The minimum number of watchkeepers.