Balise de détresse Bateau PLB

What is a PLB beacon used for?

A PLB beacon , or Personal Location Beacon, is a distress beacon that sends a distress signal to trigger a rescue chain in the event of a serious situation. It uses the Cospas-Sarsat system. PLBs cannot be programmed with an MMSI and do not have the same level of resistance to the marine environment as EPIRB beacons . It is therefore still recommended to equip yourself with an EPIRB to ensure a high level of safety on board.

A typical example of a PLB distress beacon is the . In an emergency, this PLB beacon sends a signal to all AIS receivers nearby. This small, practical beacon is compact and designed to be attached to your life jacket.

How does a PLB beacon work?

The way a PLB beacon works differs from an EPIRB beacon because it is an individual beacon intended to be worn on the person. It is essential that every passenger carries a PLB beacon, preferably attached to their life jacket.

The advantage of a PLB beacon is that it is a very versatile piece of safety equipment , suitable for a wide range of situations. It can be used by sailors, fishermen, hikers, mountaineers and anyone else taking part in a risky outdoor activity.

Also note that some models can be equipped with GPS technology to provide rescuers with more information. This is the case with the famous Individual Alert and Geolocation Device (DIAL), an individual alert and geolocation device designed with the SNSM. This wristband is designed to contact as many people as possible if its wearer falls overboard. Relatives and rescue services receive an alert quickly. The man overboard can be located easily and accurately thanks to the GPS feature.

It should be noted that, due to their portability and compact size, these distress beacons have a limited battery life, generally guaranteeing an average of 24 hours of transmission. Warning: in Asia, the use of PLB beacons is highly regulated. Be sure to find out all the necessary information.