LONDON, March 31 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Newmeasuresto strengthen search and rescue response to incidents involving people with Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) will come into force from 15 April.

Anupdate by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)willrequireregistration ofallcurrent and new PLBs - online andat no cost-that arecarriedonboarda UK flagged vessel,hovercraftor mechanically propelled watercraft, such as jet skis.

When PLBs are discarded or change ownership, the new details must also be provided.

The changebringsPLBs under regulations thathave applied for26yearsto Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs).

When aregisteredPLBor EPIRBis activated, HM Coastguard can use the details supplied, such as emergency contacts, to gain crucial information to support rescue efforts and send the best resources to help.

False alarms can be traced more efficiently too,keepingrescue teamson readinessfor real emergenciesand avoiding unnecessary missionsinto potentially dangerous conditions.

The registration requirement does not apply to PLBs on unpowered craft such as paddleboards,kayaksand canoes-although the MCA encourages all PLBs to be registered.

PLB rescue case study:

* Locator beacons bring rescue to crew ofdismastedyacht drifting in the dark:hmcoastguard.uk/news/locator-beacons-bring-rescue-crew-dismasted-yacht-drifting-dark

PLB registration-real lifesearches:

*

London calling: An unregistered PLB broadcasting from London sparked three separate searches during July and August 2025. Activations were traced once to Ealing and twice to Paddington. Each time emergency services were alerted and stood down hours later, with no one found to be in distress.

*

Wasteof time: A PLB dumped at a waste recycling centre was the source of an alert in Exeter which scrambled Dawlish Coastguard Rescue Team in January 2023. Without an update of its disused status, and calls to registered numbers going unanswered, the search continued for about two hours until the PLB could be traced to a skip and destroyed.

*

Boxed-inboat: A boat in a box was theriddle decipheredby HM Coastguard, thanks to contact details registered toa PLBactivatedin Antiguain February 2023.A searchwasn'trequiredas it was quicklyascertainedthat theaccidental alert was fromkitinsidea seagoing rowing boatpacked-upfor return to the UKhaving recently crossed the Atlantic.

UK Distress & Security Beacon Registry ManagerLinda Gouldingsaid:

Thebenefit ofregisteringyour PLBis simple: itgivesyou - andeveryoneyou'rewith- a headstart to being rescuedfrom anemergency.

The registration process isfree, takes just 15 minutes, and could make the difference between life or death.You can do itat no costonlinein time for the deadline of 15 April.

HM Coastguard will reacttoeverybeacon alertwe receive.RegisteringyourPLB helps us quickly work outwhenit'sa false alarm with no one in danger, or tofocus our resources whenpeople are inrealdistressandneed our help.Help us to help you.

To register a PLB or EPIRB with theUK Beacon Registry, visithttps://www.gov.uk/register-406-beacons, call +44 (0)20 3817 2006 or emailukbeacons@mcga.gov.uk

To find out more visitMGN 665 (M+F) Amendment 1 Mandatory registration of EPIRBs and PLBs.

Background

The update relates to the UK revoking and replacing the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB Registration) Regulations 2000 with the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration) (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 to include updated registration requirements for EPIRBs and introducenew registrationrequirements for PLBs.

The Regulations also amend other Statutory Instruments, including the Merchant Shipping (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 and the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023.

These amendments include the implementation of discrete changes to international safety requirements under SOLAS Chapter IV and necessary changesas a consequence ofthe proposed Regulations being introduced.

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