Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2016 (Cth)

Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2016 as amended made under subsection 132(1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992

Compilation No. 2

Compilation date: 17 June 2021

Includes amendments up to: F2021L00734

Prepared by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Melbourne

1 Name of Class Licence

This class licence is the Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2016.

4 Purpose of Class Licence

The purpose of this class licence is to authorise the operation of a range of emergency locating devices that are satellite distress beacons, EPIRB-AIS and locating aids.

Note 1 Each type of emergency locating device has advantages and disadvantages that are usually associated with the circumstances of its use.

Note 2 A satellite distress beacon or EPIRB-AIS operating on 406 MHz, if properly maintained, is capable of alerting search and rescue authorities through the COSPAS‑SARSAT network of satellites from almost any open‑air location. The use of a satellite distress beacon or EPIRB-AIS is particularly appropriate if a vessel is located away from busy coastal shipping channels. The time taken to organise a rescue will depend on the locating of the satellite distress beacon or EPIRB-AIS and the availability of suitable search and rescue resources.

Note 3 A locating aid is a short range device that depends on the availability of fixed or ambulatory receivers within radiocommunications range of the locating aid. A locating aid used in conjunction with a receiver on a parent vessel is particularly useful in a man‑overboard situation during which the parent vessel is usually immediately required for rescue action.

5 Definitions and Interpretation

(1) In this class licence:

ARPANSA Standard means the Radiation Protection Standard for Limiting Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields – 100 kHz to 300 GHz (2021), or any standard published as a replacement of that standard, by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.