scope:

This ETS specifies the minumum performance requirements, techinical characteristics and conformance testing requirements of a satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (satellite EPIRBs) operating in the INMARSAT geostationary satellite system as described in Regulation IV subclause 7.1.6 of the 1988 amendments to the 1974 International Convention for Safety of Life as Sea (SOLAS) [2].

The requirements of this ETS are in addition to the requirements of INMARSAT-E System Definition Manual [11].

This ETS comprises the relevant requirements of the RAdio Regulations [1], IMP Resolutions A.658(16) [3], A.661(16) [5], A.689(17) [6], A.694(17) [7], A.702(17) [8], ITU-R Recommendation 632 [9], and Regulation IV-7.1.6 of the 1988 amendments to the 1974 SOLAS convention [2].

This ETS covers the following categories of satellite EPIRBs:

- satellite EPIRB with position updating from the ship's navigational installation and with an integral 9 GHz radar transponder;

satellite EPIRB with position updating from an integral facility for automatic positon udating.

remote controlled satellite EPIRB meeting the requirements of Regulation IV subclauses 10.1.4.3 and 10.2.3.2.2 of the 1988 amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention [2].

To further meet the requirments of Regulatin IV subclause 10.4.4.3 and 10.2.3.2.2 of the 1988 amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention [2], with regard to remote activation for both categories, and additional remote control unit, for remote activation and for feeding the satellite EPIRB with "nature of distress" information, is required.