The island’s harbour master said that it could ‘make the difference between life and death’ in an emergency at sea.
New registration requirements for UK-flagged vessels and marine craft will come into force next week, bringing personal locator beacons in line with the registration rules for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons.
Epirbs are vessel-specific devices which can be automatically or manually activated by anyone in distress, transmitting their vessel’s position to Coastguard agencies by satellite. PLBs are smaller, manually-activated handheld devices that can be worn on a lifejacket or clothing.
‘While the new PLB registration requirements apply specifically to UK-flagged vessels, we strongly encourage all Guernsey mariners to register their PLBs and Epirbs as well. When a beacon is activated, every second counts,’ said harbour master James Way.
‘Having accurate, up-to-date registration details allows our maritime watch officers to quickly understand who is in trouble, where they may be, and what resources are needed to respond.’
A registered device allows Coastguard operators to quickly distinguish between a false alarm and a genuine emergency. Registering the devices is quick and free.
The value of carrying a registered emergency device was demonstrated in two separate incidents in local waters last year.
In April 2025, a sailor and his cat were rescued after their 10-metre yacht lost all navigation and communication equipment in poor weather, some 5-6 nautical miles north of Guernsey.
Later the same month, another mariner was rescued eight nautical miles southwest of the Casquets Lighthouse following a power failure and the loss of all onboard navigational equipment.
‘The benefit of registering your PLB is simple. It gives yourself – and everyone you’re with – a head start to being rescued from an emergency. The registration process is free, takes just 15 minutes, and could make the difference between life and death,’ said Linda Goulding, UK distress & security beacon registry manager.
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