EPIRB Registration UK — Step by Step
EPIRB Registration UK — Step by Step Guide
Registering your EPIRB is free. It takes 15 minutes. It could save your life. And yet a significant number of EPIRBs operating in UK waters are either unregistered or have out-of-date registration details.
Here is exactly how to register yours.
Why Registration Matters
When your EPIRB activates — in a real emergency — the signal goes to HM Coastguard along with your beacon’s unique HEX ID. Without registration, the coastguard receives a signal from an anonymous beacon. They know someone is in distress but they have no information about the vessel, no emergency contacts to call, and no way to quickly verify whether it is a genuine emergency or an accidental activation.
Registration gives the coastguard your vessel details, your emergency contacts, and the information they need to respond faster and more effectively. An unregistered EPIRB activation caused a six-hour search involving a helicopter, two lifeboats, and police for a vessel that was safely moored in a marina. Six hours of emergency service time for an avoidable situation.
What You Need Before You Start
Your EPIRB’s HEX ID — the 15-character alphanumeric code printed on the device. Write this down before you start.
Your vessel details — vessel name, type, length, colour, registration number.
Your contact details — name, address, telephone number.
Your emergency contacts — at least one person ashore who can be contacted if your EPIRB activates and who knows your sailing plans.
How to Register — Step by Step
- Go to beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk
- Click Register a New Beacon
- Enter your HEX ID when prompted — this identifies your specific EPIRB
- Complete the vessel information section — vessel name, type, dimensions, colour, registration number
- Enter your personal contact details
- Enter your emergency contacts — names and telephone numbers of people ashore who know your plans
- Review all details carefully
- Submit the registration
You will receive a confirmation email. Keep this for your records.
Keeping Registration Up to Date
Registration is not a one-time task. Update your registration whenever:
You change vessel — the EPIRB is now registered to a different vessel
You change your telephone number or address
Your emergency contacts change
You sell the vessel — the new owner must update the registration or the EPIRB should not go with the vessel without updated registration
Go to beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk to update existing registrations using your HEX ID.
FAQs
How much does EPIRB registration cost?
Free. There is no charge for registering a 406MHz beacon with the UK Beacon Registry.
Do I need to renew my EPIRB registration?
You need to update it whenever your details change. There is no annual renewal fee or process — the registration remains valid until you update or delete it.
What if I bought a second-hand EPIRB?
The previous owner’s registration details are still on the system. Register the EPIRB under your own details immediately — the HEX ID is what links the beacon to you. If the previous owner cannot provide you with the HEX ID, it is printed on the device itself.
Register your EPIRB at beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk immediately after purchase. This is free and takes 15 minutes.
