Faulty EPIRB

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Euphonyx

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For anyone interested here's a link to the Irish Marine Casualty Investigation Board's findings in a fatal incident where the EPIRB was found to be defective. According to the report: “Subsequent to the sinking of the MFV Dean Leanne, a number of similar GME EPIRBs were detected as apparently defective” — resulting in the manufacturer, GME, issuing a safety alert for the EPIRBs.

http://www.mcib.ie/reports/?-fromsearch=y&-skiprecords=2&-maxrecords=1
 
pcatterall said:
I feel ore confidence in my little 'SPOT' tracker As I use it every day I KNOW that it will work even if the emergency response may not be so well integrated
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That is a big plus point for the Tracker-effectively daily checks that it is transmitting, rather than just a "check LED " coming on.
 
catalac08 said:
That is a big plus point for the Tracker-effectively daily checks that it is transmitting, rather than just a "check LED " coming on.
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I agree but EPIRBS do put out at least a 406MHz signal when you press the test. You can pick it up on a UHF receiver if you are paranoid. Not checked if tests the 121MHz homing beacon too (guessing not).
 
SAPurdie said:
I carry both. Belt & braces. It's a bit like expecting the liferaft to work when you need it. it may, but who really knows? Bring back Tinker.
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I've wondered that about my liferaft. It's due for servicing. Been tempted to set it off and pay the extra cost for a new CO2 cylinder and get reassurance of it's condition... not sure if that's a good idea though or what it would cost.
 
yachtailsa said:
I've wondered that about my liferaft. It's due for servicing. Been tempted to set it off and pay the extra cost for a new CO2 cylinder and get reassurance of it's condition... not sure if that's a good idea though or what it would cost.
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Setting it off won't provide any more assurance of condition than a proper service would. But it might be an interesting learning experience.

Best check with the servicing place first - I don't think it's the case, but it wouldn't totally amaze me if some new budget rafts were effectively single-use and not allowed to be repacked after having been set off.

Pete
 
I read the accident report and as I understand it the microprocessor in the EPIRB failed due to moisture ingress, and that would not have been a problem for a chip that was powered up regularly and warmed up. As was said above, there is an advantage of emergency equipment being the same equipment you use every day.

The lifejackets the fishermen were wearing also failed, some with leaks. That reminds me that the liferaft that came with Tui was within it service interval, but then when I did later send it to be serviced it turned out that it leaked as the previous service was done incorrectly and a leak repaired only on one of two skins. Some liferaft service places invite you to come and watch it being inflated I and I think I will do that.
 
What a sad tale when you read through it.....if only....if only.
But the EPIRB failure seems the worst aspect, the chopper was there very quickly so even with those dodgy life jackets they may have had a chance.
If I was a fishermans wife/mum then I would insist they had a tracker type device and ‘called in’ regularly.
 
pcatterall said:
What a sad tale when you read through it.....if only....if only.
But the EPIRB failure seems the worst aspect, the chopper was there very quickly so even with those dodgy life jackets they may have had a chance.
If I was a fishermans wife/mum then I would insist they had a tracker type device and ‘called in’ regularly.
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Yes or PLBs but good safety gear is expensive and expensive to maintain and I expect margins catching lobsters are pretty slim. The boat was not in that good condition and probably not big enough for three blokes and the equipment. As you say such a sad story.
 
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