EPIRBs & personal locator beacons.
Replacing the vessel’s EPIRB or choosing a beacon for a crew member? Request a quote in Sint Maarten for the beacon type, release arrangement and registration country you need.
- Reply within 24 hoursMonday to Friday, with a current price and availability.
- Lead time 1 to 2 weeksYour quote confirms the timing for your order.
- Supplied by The Marine StoreThe Marine Store by SM Caribbean handles product supply.
A vessel beacon or a personal beacon?
An EPIRB is the vessel’s emergency beacon. A personal locator beacon, or PLB, is carried by an individual. Both categories include satellite-alerting devices, but they serve different purchase needs. A PLB is not a substitute for an EPIRB required by the vessel’s specification.
For an EPIRB replacement, look beyond the beacon itself. The release bracket and country coding are part of the specification. For personal equipment, consider how it will be carried and whether the chosen model is compatible with any intended lifejacket integration.
Choose the beacon and its arrangement
Vessel EPIRBs
Specify manual-release or automatic float-free equipment. Ocean Signal EPIRB3 Pro, for example, includes a Category I float-free bracket with a hydrostatic release unit.
A manual-release bracket and automatic activation are different features. Include the current beacon model, bracket and vessel requirements when asking for a replacement.
Personal locator beacons
A PLB is personal equipment. Features differ by model: Ocean Signal PLB3 combines 406 MHz satellite alerting with AIS and Return Link Service, while PLB1 has a different feature set.
Tell us the intended use and features you need. An AIS-only man-overboard device is a different product from a 406 MHz satellite beacon.
Country coding and registration
The beacon must be configured for its intended country of registration. Buying it in Sint Maarten does not automatically make that the correct registration country.
Include the vessel’s flag or intended registration country. Country programming and the owner’s registration are separate steps.
Send these details for your quote
The form asks for beacon type and registration country. Add the existing model and release-bracket details in the message; choose Unsure if you need help identifying the type.
- EPIRB or personal locator beacon, with quantity
- Existing model and bracket type if replacing a vessel beacon
- Vessel flag or intended country of registration
- Required approval and any AIS, RLS or lifejacket-integration requirement
- Delivery destination and date needed aboard
Request a beacon quote
Tell us what you need, where it is going and when you need it aboard. Include the equipment details you know; write or choose “unsure” where you need guidance.
The Marine Store by SM Caribbean handles product supply. Your quote confirms the proposed equipment, current price and timing.
Open the quote form separatelyBefore you order
Can a PLB replace the vessel’s EPIRB?
Not where the vessel requires an EPIRB. A PLB is carried by a person; the EPIRB serves the vessel. Request the equipment type in the vessel’s specification rather than choosing only by size.
Does manual release mean manual activation only?
No. Release describes how the beacon leaves its bracket; activation is a separate function. Check the exact model and bracket combination. Ocean Signal EPIRB3 and EPIRB3 Pro have different release arrangements.
Which country should the beacon be registered in?
Ocean Signal advises registration in the country where you live or where the vessel is registered. Tell us the intended country before ordering so the required coding can be included in the enquiry. Follow that country’s registration process for the actual device.
Does Return Link Service mean rescue is on the way?
No. RLS acknowledges receipt of the distress alert; it does not confirm that rescue has been dispatched. It is a model and configuration feature, not a promised rescue response.