Beacon Inadvertent Activations – Some Facts
Article Written by Rik Head, January 2025
During the recent ORCV Melbourne to Hobart race there were a small number of inadvertent beacon activations. There would have also been inadvertent activations in both the Launceston and Sydney to Hobart fleets. These avoidable activations do consume available resources both within AMSA and race management.
Since April 2023, 34% of ORCV recorded incidents have been for inadvertent beacon activations, of which nine PLB activations required AMSA to contact ORCV Race Management. The remaining seven activations were for MOB/AISs and AISs. There were no DSC activations recorded
Now is a good time to check your beacon is set up properly and being worn correctly
Some PLBs in use by ORCV crews can inadvertently activate when direct pressure is applied to the protective cover. Take care of how you wear them.
Read the PLB Tips Guide – AUS-NZ v3
New Combined Beacons
There are now semi-automatic combination AIS/PLBs available that attach to life jackets. There also now new semi-automatic combination AIS/MOBs available that attach to lifejackets in the same way.
At least one manufacturer uses the same type of housing for both devices, and the activation mechanism is the same.
They can be tricky to set up correctly. They need to be set up so that:
- it will actually activate when the life jacket inflates
- it will not accidentally activate
- the installation will not damage your life jacket bladder
Often inadvertent activations for these devices can be attributed to:
- an incorrect installation process
- the arming slider not being correctly engaged in the 'up' position, and/or There is a youtube installation guide here:
Get a fellow crew member to check you have precisely followed the manufacturer’s instructions and that it will work correctly, or if in doubt get the manufacturer or a life jacket servicing agent to set it up and check it.
Be aware these combined AIS/PLBs or AIS/MOBs can be programmed in one of two ways to send an AIS alarm when activated:
- all nearby vessels, or
- only to just one specific vessel
It is recommended you program it to send an alarm all nearby vessels. If you have gone overboard and inflated your life jacket you still need all the help you can get
There is information on manufacturers’ websites on how to set up a combined AIS/PLB
If in doubt contact the manufacturer.
