EPIRB and PLB registration and battery service

EPIRBs (406 MHz beacons for vessels) and PLBs (personal, for individuals) must be registered with NOAA in the US (or the equivalent national authority) at beaconregistration.noaa.gov, registration is FREE and mandatory. An unregistered EPIRB still transmits, but rescue coordinators have zero context (vessel name, owner, emergency contacts, medical info), which delays response. Re-register every 2 years or when ownership/contact info changes. Battery service: most 406 EPIRBs have a 10-year battery from date of manufacture. The self-test button on the front only confirms transmit hardware, not battery capacity, the battery must be replaced by a manufacturer-authorized service center at the labeled expiration date, or the EPIRB is legally non-compliant. Hydrostatic release units (HRUs) that auto-deploy EPIRBs from Category I brackets have a 2-year lifespan. Manual (Category II) EPIRBs still need registration but no HRU. Test the EPIRB monthly via the self-test button (do NOT test by activating). If you accidentally activate an EPIRB, call USCG immediately (do NOT switch it off first, they need to hear the signal stop after your call).