EPIRB also named Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, The regulations require that all ships constructed after 1 July, 1986 will be equipped with one manually activated Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon which complies with the regulations, stowed on either side of the ship. Their stowage should be such that they can be deployed in any of the survival craft rapidly, with the exception of the life rafts required by Regulation 26.1.4. (Regarding the stowage of additional liferafts on certain vessels.)

Survival craft EPIRBs shall at least be capable of transmitting alternately or simultaneously signals complying with the relevant standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on the frequencies 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz. The transmission from an EPIRB shall enable aircraft to locate the survival craft and may also provide alert facilities.

Survival craft EPIRBs shall:

(a) be of a highly visible colour, so designed that they can be used by an unskilled person. Their construction should be such that they may be easily tested and maintained and their batteries shall not require replacement at intervals of less than 12 months, taking into account testing arrangements;
(b) be watertight, and capable of floating and being dropped into the water without damage from a height of at least 20 m;
(c) be capable of manual activation and de-activation only;
(d) be portable, lightweight and compact;
(e) be provided with indication that signals are being emitted;
(f) derive their energy supply from a battery forming an integral part of the device and having sufficient capacity to operate the apparatus for a period of 48 hours. The transmission may be intermittent. Determination of the duty cycle should take into account the probability of homing being properly carried out, the need to avoid congestion on the frequencies and the need to comply with the requirements of the ICAO.
(g) be tested and, if necessary, have their source of energy replaced at intervals not exceeding 12 months.