موسوعة اليخوت
PLB (personal beacon)
PLBs for sailors: personal 406 MHz beacons, registration and carry practice, and FairHelm limits on treating a pocket beacon as a full vessel EPIRB.
ما هذا
A PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) is a compact 406 MHz distress beacon registered to a person (or as allowed by the local scheme) and intended to be carried on the body so it can be activated if the wearer goes overboard or abandons ship.
Anchor
FairHelm sees PLBs clipped inside lifejacket covers on serious passages. Nordic night sailing and cold water make "in the nav desk" a weak plan.
FairHelm judgment
FairHelm judgment: a PLB in a drawer does not help a person in the water. Pair with harness practice and a vessel EPIRB when the voyage warrants both. Registration must match the person who carries it.
Limits
Carriage rules and registration databases differ by country. We do not invent mandatory lists here. Confirm with your flag and beacon maker.
الأسئلة الشائعة
Q: Can a PLB replace an EPIRB?
A: Not as a float-free vessel beacon. It protects the person wearing it. Serious boats often carry both roles.
Q: Where should I wear a PLB?
A: On the person, ideally integrated with the lifejacket so it cannot be left below.
Q: Does AIS MOB replace a PLB?
A: Different tools. AIS MOB helps nearby vessels. A 406 PLB alerts the satellite rescue system.