Emergency position radio indicating beacon operating whithin COSPAS-SARSAT system is one of the most effective means for transmitting distress signals among the GMDSS equipment such as Inmarsat, SART or portable radio station GMDSS with lithium-type battery. 

You would like to know why? First of all this device is free float version  – it’s floating and transmit the distress signals automatically. The other devices are fixed and immovable (like Inmarsat devices), placed in safety boats or set down in pilot room.

For another thing, distress signal transmission is performed via two frequencies, except space satellite signal on the frequency of 406 MHz, EPIRB also operates on the frequency of  121,5 Mhz  (so-called home beacon signal – since 2009 satellites do not detect this type of the signal. But all the planes and vessels nearby in the zone of action are able to detect distress signal – which is by no means unimportant option if the vessel is in distress.

Thirdly, this device is more powerful, as most of the radio distress beacons are capable to work only about 48 hours as minimum (at 20 t °C – the time period is much more).

EPIRB MP 406 has certificate of conformity to the European standarts (GL – wheel mark) and certificate of the Russian and Ukrainian marine register.

Today’s volume weight of the EPIRB MP-406 is about 970 gr.  EPIRB is enclosed in container which throws the device automatically in case of immersing on the depth of  1.5 - 4 meters.  Till 2007 the device was in open container and by reason of EPIRB of the COSPAS-SARSAT system was placed in the open space on the vessel deck it has experienced natural and physical actions which led to the external injury of the device.   

This device is been manufacturing by Musson Marine Ltd since 2004 and appears to be 4th generation of the COSPAS-SARSAT beacons working on the frequency of  406 MHz. From the very beginning of the manufacturing this device was intended for sales abroad. This device main advantage is reliable price and affordable service maintenance. All repair pieces which are to change within the service maintenance is hydrostat Hammar H20 which is available in all the service shops all over the world and the power supply unit for EPIRB 406 with SAFT batteries. That’s all you need! Easy and affordable service maintenance is very profitable for many service companies which can replace all the repair pieces at any time.     

General Specification:

Message format: MMSI, Serialised, Call Sign
Programming: Easy remote programming
Temperature: Opearting: -30C to 55 Class 2
Storage: -50C to +70C
Battery: Lithium, to be replaced every five and a half years, 48 hours operation
Hydrostat: Hammar H20
Weight with bracket: 2,2 kg (Including the weight of Hammar 20)
Weight with bracket: 2,0 kg (EPIRB weight - 1kg, Bracket weight - 1kg)
Warranty period: 5 years

Technical Specification:

Delievery set:
EPIRB MP-406 with power supply unit - 1
Hydrostat Hammar H20 - 1
Closed case - 1
User manual - 1
Package - 1

Conformance to standards:
IMO Resolutions A.696(17); A.810(19) as amended by MSC.56(66), MSC.120(74).
ITU-R M.633-2:00-05; ITU-R M.690-1:95-10; MSC/Circ.862.
IEC 61097-2:02-09; IEC 60945:02-08.
ETS 300 066 V1.3.1:96-05, EN 60945:03-07.