Ship Safety Bulletins (SSB)
Date ( Y-M-D ): 2014-07-14
We issue Ship Safety Bulletins for the marine community. Visit our Website at www.tc.gc.ca/ssb-bsn to view existing bulletins and to sign up to receive e-mail notices of new ones.
Purpose:
This Ship Safety Bulletin:
- informs Canadian Mariners about a recent product safety recall related to GME branded EPIRBs made by Standard Communications Pty Ltd.; and
- reminds Canadian Mariners to conduct periodic EPIRB inspections and provide up-to-date contact information to the Canadian Beacon Registry.
Background:
GME 406 MHz EPIRBs received Canadian type acceptance in 2008. On July 2nd, 2014 GME issued a precautionary safety alert about a small number of GME EPIRBs that failed the self-test procedure. Such a failure may mean that the EPIRB will not operate in an emergency.
You can view this safety alert on the GME website at:
http://www.gme.net.au/public/pdf/brochures/47880-1_safetyrecall.pdf
Periodic Testing:
If regulations require you carry an EPRIB on your vessel, you must:
- test the EPIRBs at least once every six months, as set out in the manufacturer’s instructions; and
- record the results in the radio log.
If you carry a 406 MHz EPRIB on your vessel on a voluntary basis, Transport Canada recommends that you follow the manufacturer’s testing schedule.
Registration:
Remember, you must register 406 MHz beacons with the Canadian Beacon Registry (CBR). You must also notify the CBR:
- about any changes in status of your vessel or emergency point-of-contact; and
- when you remove 406 MHz beacons for storage, sale, replacement or disposal.
You can register 406 MHz beacons free-of-charge on line at: https://www.cbr-rcb.ca
You can also contact the CRB by:
Canadian Beacon Registry
CFB Trenton, PO Box 1000 Stn Forces
Astra, Ontario K0K 3W0
Telephone
1-877-406-SOS1 (7671)
Facsimile
1-877-406-FAX8 (8298)
The following document is available for downloading or viewing:
GME 406 MHz EPIRB Precautionary Alert (120
KB
)
To access the Portable Document Format ( PDF ) version you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet:
- Beacon
- GME
- EPIRB
Russ Renaud
613-998-0602
Marine Safety and Security
Tower C, Place de Ville
330 Sparks Street, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N8
Contact us at: marinesafety-securitemaritime@tc.gc.ca or 1-855-859-3123 (Toll Free).