EPIRB EPIRB EPIRB CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NOTES




EPIRB




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COSPAS SARSAT
COSPAS – RUSSIAN WORD
SARSAT – Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking System

What type of EPIRB it is?
Float free type

What is the purpose/use of EPIRB?
To determine the position of survivors during SAR

What does the EPIRB signal indicate?
One or more persons are in distress and they may no longer be on board and they may not have receiving facilty

What are the types of EPIRB?
COSPAS SARSAT EPIRB – 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz
406 MHz – exact frequency is 406.037 MHz
INMARSAT EPIRB – 1.6 GHz
VHF EPIRB – CH 70
How do both frequencies transmitted consecutively?
On 406 MHz –(406.037 MHz) It radiates RF burst for .5 seconds. On 121.5 MHz –It radiates homing signal for 40 seconds. Both are transmitted consecutively with small intervals

Power output?
406 MHz – 5 watts
121.5 MHz – 100 mw

How is the EPIRB activated?
EPIRB IS activated manually and automatically

How is the EPIRB activated automatically?
In Distress, when Ship is sinking, at the depth of 4 to 4.5 meters –
EPIRB is automatically released from HRU –and comes to the water surface
Seawater contact screw touches the sea water and EPIRB starts transmission



How EPIRB is fitted?
EPIRB is fitted in the HRU frame firmly with spring loaded locking system
HRU -Hydrostatic Releasing Unit frame

What is the name of switch?
Activation switch
(The ring is called activation ring)

How is the EPIRB activated manually?
TAKE IT OUT FROM HRU. BREAK THE SEAL, PULL  OUT THE LOCKING PINB. SWITCH AUTOMATICALLY GOES TO ON POSITION. EPIRB STRATS TRANSMITTING ( transmitting on two frequencies and also strobe light flashes)

Who receives the EPIRB signal?
LUT receives EPIRB signal (on 406 MHz)
(LUT determines the position of EPIRB. RCC receives the information from LUT)
LUT forward the information to RCC through MCC

What is the function of LUT?
By applying DOPPLER SHIFT method, LUT determines the position of EPIRB (survivors)
LUT forward the information to RCC through MCC

How is false alert sent from EPIRB?
Inadvertent activation is caused by human errors during testing and maintenance of EPIRB/
Mishandling by inexperienced persons
What is HRU?
Hydrostatic releasing unit
What is the validity of HRU?
2 years
Why EPIRB is tested every month?
EPIRB is kept for prolonged periods of continuous exposure to extreme weather conditions, with minimal maintenance attention; It is required to be ready to work without flaw, first time, in an emergency.
EPIRB and its ancillary devices should be inspected monthly to ensure that they are always ready to work.

What is the use of Lanyard?
To secure the EPIRB when people are in distress and in the life craft
(10 metres length)
What is the EPIRB BATTERY?
Lithium battery
Battery life for most EPIRBs is 5 years.
The battery must be replaced on or before the expiration date or if the EPIRB has been used in an emergency regardless of the length of time.
EPIRB batteries are designed to operate the beacon for a minimum of 48 hours.

(Activation switch, sea switch ant test button are available in sailor model SE406 II EPIRB)

What is EPIRB guard receiver?
EPIRB guard receiver (ALRS. Vol. 5)

What is the intensity of light?
Intensity of Light = .75 candla,
Radius – 14,000 meters (14 Km)

What is 121.5 MHz?
121.5 MHz – Aero distress frequency

When EPIRB starts transmission/activated?
After 50 seconds, EPIRB makes its first distress transmission

How do you test EPIRB?
It is a monthly test
Take out EPIRB from HRU
In EPIRB,
Switch has 3 positions. ON, OFF and TEST. It is a spring loaded switch.
Push and hold the switch in the TEST position for 15 seconds
Initially we can see a continuous blips and followed by a single strobe flash

After that, what will you do?
Make a log entry





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What are the maintenance of EPIRB?
1.    Check the fitment of EPIRB ( whether it is firmly fitted. A spring loaded fitment)

2.    Take out the EPIRB from HRU. Check the physical condition of EPIRB
 (check any corrosion or any crack, any physical damage)

3.    Read the Instruction Label (how to activated and how to test)

4.    Check the battery expiry date and annual service date
(battery expiry – 5 years before the expiry date, battery has to be changed
Every year EPIRB should be given to SBM for annual test)

5.    Check the HRU validity ( 2 years)

6.    Check the lanyard (nylon rope – 10 meters)

7.    Testing EPIRB (monthly)

EPIRB
Intensity of light (EPIRB flash intensity)
.75 Candela (unit of luminous intensity)
Radius – 14 Km

121.5 MHz – Aero distress freq
After 50 seconds – EPIRB makes its first Distress transmission

EPIRB
AERIAL – Built in vertical Omni directional GPS path aerial
Phase Modulation
406 MHz        - 5 Watts
121.5 MHz     - 75 mw

GEOLUT – LUT in GEOSAR system
LEOLUT – LUT in LEO SAR system
MCC – Indian MCC, Bangalore

LUT – Lucknow (UP) & Bangalore



RECEIVED EPIRB SIGNALS
IN REAL TIME MODE
First emergency alert is received within five minutes of activation
IN GLOBAL MODE
Receiving EPIRB signals extends to 45 minutes- 90 minutes

What type of aerial used in EPIRB?
Aerial – built in vertical, omni directional, GPS path ae


GEOLUT – LUT in GEOSAR system
LEOLUT – LUT in LEOSAR system
GEOSAR system – Geo stationary system for SAR
LEOSAR system – Low Earth orbiting system for SAR

Where are the LUTs in India?
LUT in INDIA – LUCKNOW (UP) and Bangalore

Where is MCC in India?
MCC – Indian MCC – Bangalore


What is the function of MCC related to EPIRB?
Registration of EPIRB is done in MCC

EPIRB Installation itself – fitment is designed to release itself and float free before reaching at depth of 4 m at a list or trim of any angle as per IMO resolution

Emission – G1B – 406 MHz

After distress situation is over, retrieve the EPIRB and deactivate it.

Who allotted MMSI?
In India, DGS

What information do LUT receive from EPIRB signal?
15 digits hexadecimal ID and MMSI




Regular Maintenance of EPIRB:
(This question about regular maintenance-monthly, yearly, twice a year)

Check fitment of EPIRB at regular intervals on duty
Monthly EPIRB test – on board
Yearly – by SBM – annual test
Every two years – Replace HRU with plastic bolt
Every 5 years – change Battery (SBM test and self test on board))

How do you remove the battery from EPIRB?
EPIRB has two halves. Upper half and lower half
There screws in between fitted joining the two halves
Unscrew them and take out the battery from the lower half
(with the help of user manual)


STANDGUARD EPIRB GUARD RECEIVER
An audible alarm and visual indication




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  1. EPIRB is activated automatically.

In Distress,
when ship is sinking,
at the depth of 4 to 4.5 meters.
Water gushes inside the HRU chamber
and
due to the hydrostatic pressure,
A small knife which is inside the HRU cuts the holding rod
and
EPIRB is released from HRU.





EPIRB comes to water surface and floats
                                                            Sea water touches sea water contact switch
                                                            And EPIRB is activated

EPIRB transmits on two frequencies.
406 MHz and 121.5 MHz
Also
Every 4 seconds it will transmit a flash





  1. EPIRB is activated manually.

Take out from the HRU
Break the seal
Pull out the locking pin.
The switch goes to the ON position
EPIRB starts transmission


EXTRA QUESTIONS:
Down link frequency of EPIRB
1544.5 MHz

Validity of GOC GMDSS certificate/licence
10 years





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What is the INDIA’s part in search and rescue in EPIRB?
India is a member of the international COSPAS-SARSAT programme for providing distress alert and position location service through LEOSAR (Low Earth Orbit Search And Rescue) satellite system.
Where are the LUT in India?
Under this programme, India has established two Local User Terminals (LUTs), one at Lucknow and the other at Bangalore.
Where is the MCC in India?
 The Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC), is located at ISTRAC, Bangalore.
Which low polar orbiting satellite tracks the EPIRB signals in India?
INSAT-3A located at 93.5 deg East is equipped with 406 MHz Search and Rescue payload that picks up and relays alert signals originating from the distress beacons of maritime, aviation and land users.
What is INSAT?
INSAT and GOES systems have become an integral part of the COSPAS-SARSAT system and they complement the LEOSAR system
Which countries are covered by Indian LUT?
Indian LUTs provide coverage to a large part of Indian Ocean region rendering distress alert services to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Tanzania.

















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