Inmarsat E EPIRB

Inmarsat E EPIRBs transmit a distress signal to Inmarsat geostationary satellites which includes a registered identity similar to that of the 406 MHz EPIRB and a location derived from a GPS navigational satellite receiver inside the EPIRB. Inmarsat EPIRBs may be detected anywhere in the world between 70 degrees North latitude and 70 degrees South latitude. Since geostationary satellites are used, alerts are transmitted nearly instantly to a rescue coordination center associated with the Inmarsat coast earth station receiving the alert. Alerts received over the Inmarsat Atlantic Ocean Regions are routed to the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command center in New York, and alerts received over the Inmarsat Pacific Ocean Region are routed to the Coast Guard Pacific Area command center in San Francisco.

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See the NOAA SARSAT Homepage