Emergency locating devices class licence

Emergency locating devices can be used by people in distress situations.

These devices include:

• satellite distress beacons
• emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) – automatic identification systems (AIS)
• locating aids including     
  • maritime survivor locating systems (MSLS) - such as a man overboard (MOB) device
  • AIS search and rescue transponders (SART)
  • radar SART

This class licence only lets you use these devices in distress situations.

Satellite distress beacons on aircraft are covered under the aircraft and aeronautical mobile stations class licence.

You can get more information about emergency locating devices on boats from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

You don't need to apply for a class licence or pay any fees.

But you must follow all the rules in the:

• Emergency Locating Devices Class Licence 2016
• Radiocommunications Act 1992

You can find the frequencies for emergency locating devices in the class licence.

The device or equipment you operate under the class licence must comply with our technical standards. 

These include:

• some general standards – see Schedule 5 to the General Equipment Rules
• the Radiocommunications (Electromagnetic Compatibility) Standard 2017
• the Electromagnetic Energy (EME) Standard – see Schedule 4 to the General Equipment Rules.

Read more about our technical standards including our general radiocommunications standards, the EMC standard and the EME standard.

If your device or equipment does not meet the rules in our technical standards, you will need a permit to supply, use or have it. This is separate from a licence. Find out about permits and fees under the General Equipment Rules.