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Subject: [worldcruising] BVI Yacht Registration
From: A0884958, Dave (wdr@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Jan 24 2001 - 05:21:54 EST
Actually EPIRBs are not registered with either the US Coast Guard or BVI
Department of Communications. They are registered with NOAA (National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) for the USA and in fact I believe
all of North and Central America. Any of the other COSPAS-SARSAT
participants will register your EPIRB but as NOAA runs the central
Mission Control Center with France, Russia and Australia hooked in with
regional MCC's it makes most sense to go to them directly. NOAA manages
the satellite network, ground stations and the registration and database
in the US. I believe that at least the other originating countries
(Canada, USA, France, Russia) enter registrations from their respective
regions but the data base must be shared.
The USCG is the coordinating agency for search and rescue in the US and
territorial waters but co-operates with many other countries including
much of the Caribbean. In the USA the Air Force and USCG combine forces
in SAR missions.
You can find the EPIRB registration form at:
If you are purchasing a new one you might look at GPIRB's. At least
2 true GPIRB's are available. ACR's unit requires a connection to your
ship based GPS while Paines-Wessex and NAT units are standalone and
offer superior location capability. In the North Sea this summer,
we witnessed the British SAR identify a fishing boat, launched a
helicopter and plucked 3 fisherman out of the water in just over half
an hour using GPIRB location. They then asked the other fishing boats
to pick up the GPIRB.
In the BVI your SSB, HAM, VHF, Radar etc. are registered with the
Radio Telecommunications Unit of the Department of Communications of the
BVI Government. Per International ITC requirements they will issue
both a ships station license and an operators license. My wife and I
both have the latter. If you already have a HAM ticket they will
issue a HAM operators license with no examination. But they require
that you have a ticket in your country of permanent residence.
I realize the USA has relinquished the requirement for licensing of
a VHF but most other countries have not. The CB mentality shows when
VHF is reduced to the babble of unqualified users.
Regards
Dave Richardson
wdr@XXX.XXX
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Marcuzzo [mailto:paulmar@XXX.XXX]
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 9:50 PM
To: worldcruising@XXX.XXX
Subject: RE: [worldcruising] BVI Yacht Registration
Quick question on this subject, if I have an EPIRB do I register with the US
Coast Guard or in the BVI?
Fair Winds !
Paul
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