Regulations last checked for updates: Feb 11, 2026

Title 46 - Shipping last revised: Jan 15, 2026
§ 117.64 - Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRB).

Each vessel that operates on the high seas, or that operates beyond three miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes, must have on board an FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate.

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996; 61 FR 20556, May 7, 1996]
authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103,3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4
source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 46 CFR 117.64