Recreational crafts to which the requirements of Chapter 2.2.4 of Cabinet Regulation No. 30 of 12 January 2016 “Regulations on the Use and Maintenance of Ship Radio and Navigation Equipment” applies should be equipped with EPIRB. In general, all Category A recreational crafts and those Category B recreational crafts used in commercial activities should be equipped with EPIRB.
The EPIRB shall be installed in an easily accessible place on a recreational craft. For recreational crafts with a hull length exceeding 24 metres, the EPIRB should be placed in an easily accessible place so that free float is ensured in all operating conditions.
Registration of EPIRB is mandatory and is carried out by the Maritime Safety Inspectorate of the Maritime Administration of Latvia, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 5 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 30 “Regulations on the Use and Maintenance of Ship Radio and Navigation Equipment” of 12 January 2016.
To register a EPIRB, the shipowner submits an application and Information for registration of a 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT EPIRB, as well as presents to the Maritime Safety Inspectorate the annual inspection document of the radio buoy (in accordance with the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 30 “Regulations on the Use and Maintenance of Ship Radio and Navigation Equipment” of 12 January 2016 or IMO MSC Circular 1040) and a printout of the EPIRB program inspection.
The Maritime Safety Inspectorate calls for a responsible provision of contact information in case of an emergency so that the Latvian Navy Coast Guard can initiate search and rescue operations in a timely manner.
The completed application with information for the registration of a 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT marine emergency radio beacon, as well as the annual inspection document and the EPIRB program test printout, can also be submitted to the Maritime Safety Inspectorate electronically, if they are signed with a secure electronic signature.
After checking the submitted documents, the Maritime Safety Inspectorate prepares a REGISTRATION CARD FOR 406 MHz EPIRB and informs the Navy Coast Guard Service.
EPIRB registration is a paid service.
