How to Register a PLB UK
How to Register a PLB UK — Step by Step
As of 15 April 2026, it is now a legal requirement to register all 406MHz PLBs carried on UK-flagged vessels and powered watercraft. Registration has always been strongly recommended — now it is the law.
It is free. It takes 15 minutes. Here is exactly how to do it.
Why PLB Registration Matters
When your PLB activates, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite network relays your HEX ID and GPS position to HM Coastguard. If you are registered, they know who you are, who to call, and what to expect. They can verify quickly whether the activation is genuine or accidental. They can send the right resources to the right location.
Without registration — they have a position and an anonymous signal. The response is slower and less precisely targeted.
An unregistered PLB activation in London caused three separate searches before the device was traced to a skip in Exeter. Three sets of emergency resources deployed for an inactive PLB in a recycling centre — because nobody had updated the registration when they disposed of it.
What You Need Before You Start
Your PLB’s HEX ID — the 15-character code printed on the device. Write it down first.
Your personal details — name, address, telephone number.
Your emergency contacts — at least one person ashore who knows your plans and can be called if the PLB activates.
If used on a vessel — the vessel details (name, type, registration).
How to Register — Step by Step
- Go to beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk
- Select Register a New Beacon
- Enter your PLB’s HEX ID
- Select PLB as the beacon type
- Enter your personal contact details
- Enter your emergency contacts — name and telephone number
- If the PLB is used on a vessel, add the vessel details
- Review carefully and submit
You will receive a confirmation email. Keep a record of your registration.
Keeping Your Registration Current
Update your registration immediately if:
You change your phone number or address
Your emergency contacts change
The PLB changes hands — the new owner must update the registration
The PLB HEX ID is non-transferable — it is encoded into the device electronics. The registration information linked to that HEX ID is what you update.
FAQs
Is PLB registration free?
Yes. Registration with the UK Beacon Registry is free. There are no annual fees and no renewal costs.
Do I need to register my PLB if I only use it on land?
The new 2026 regulation specifically covers PLBs on UK-flagged vessels and powered watercraft. For land-only use — registration is not currently a legal requirement but is still strongly recommended by the MCA. Registration allows faster response in any emergency.
What happens if I sell my PLB?
Inform the UK Beacon Registry of the change of ownership. The new owner should re-register the PLB under their own details immediately. Remove your own registration details once the sale is complete.
Register your PLB at beaconregistration.admiralty.co.uk. As of 15 April 2026, registration of PLBs carried on UK-flagged vessels is a legal requirement.
