The Department for Transport has made the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration and Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/306). Made on 18 March and laid on 24 March, the instrument comes into force on 15 April 2026 and introduces a single UK regime for registering emergency position‑indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and personal locator beacons (PLBs).
Responsibility is split by device. The owner and master must ensure every EPIRB carried on a UK ship or hovercraft is registered with the Secretary of State; for PLBs, responsibility sits with the PLB owner where the PLB is carried on board. This approach follows consultation feedback that PLBs move with individuals rather than vessels. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
The information that must be registered is set out in Merchant Shipping Notice 1924 (M+F). For EPIRBs, required particulars include the ship’s name, MMSI, radio call sign, beacon serial number and locating frequencies, HEX ID, descriptive details of the ship, owner contact details with up to three 24‑hour emergency contacts, persons‑carried capacity, and details of radio installations and survival craft. (gov.uk)
For PLBs, MSN 1924 requires the owner’s contact details, the PLB serial number and locating frequencies, the HEX ID, and up to three 24‑hour emergency contacts. MCA encourages registering additional operational context, such as the ship’s name, even where not mandatory. (gov.uk)
Owners and masters for EPIRBs, and PLB owners for PLBs, must notify the Secretary of State of changes to registered particulars as soon as reasonably practicable. This duty is designed to keep the UK database accurate so HM Coastguard can validate alerts quickly. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Enforcement provisions are set on a strict liability footing with a due‑diligence defence. Using a ship in contravention of the EPIRB registration requirements is an offence committed by both owner and master. Failure to meet the PLB registration duty is an offence by the PLB owner. On summary conviction the court may impose a fine (unlimited in England and Wales; up to the statutory maximum in Scotland or Northern Ireland). On indictment the penalty is up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Detention powers are available where there are clear grounds to believe a contravention exists in relation to any EPIRB or PLB carried on the ship. A detention notice must state the grounds and remains in effect until release by a person specified in section 284(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995; the Act’s arbitration and compensation provisions apply with specified modifications. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
The regulations apply to UK ships and UK‑registered hovercraft wherever they may be. This extraterritorial application covers the interpretation, registration requirements and enforcement provisions specified in the instrument. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
The instrument revokes the Merchant Shipping (EPIRB Registration) Regulations 2000 and, via amendments to the Merchant Shipping (Watercraft) Order 2023, applies equivalent registration and enforcement provisions to watercraft. For watercraft, references are adapted to “owner and operator”, and detention notices are served on the watercraft owner. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Technical amendments support alignment with international standards. Changes to the Merchant Shipping (Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 implement discrete updates to SOLAS Chapter IV on radiocommunications, while the Merchant Shipping (Radio Installations) Regulations 1998 are updated to reflect the 406.0–406.1 MHz EPIRB definition. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Consequential changes adjust the Merchant Shipping (Fees) Regulations 2018 schedule to reflect updated references to radio and navigational equipment requirements, including the new registration framework. These are administrative cross‑references; there is no new charge for registration. (assets.publishing.service.gov.uk)
Operationally, owners, masters and PLB owners now have three immediate tasks: confirm each carried beacon’s details meet MSN 1924 requirements; file any missing registrations; and update records promptly when equipment or contact details change. Registration is completed online through the UK 406 MHz Beacon Registration Service run by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. (register-406-beacons.service.gov.uk)