The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compliant MT403FG is a 'state of the art' satellite distress beacon designed to operate in conjunction with the COSPAS-SARSAT International Satellite Search and Rescue System.
Designed to meet the most demanding regulatory approvals the GME MT403FG is a Class 2, Category 1 EPIRB in a fully enclosed float free housing with a Hammar HRU that will release the beacon at a certain depth, the beacon will then automatically activate.
Using the same innovative technology that produced the MT400 and revolutionised the EPIRB world, the MT403FG now offers commercial vessel operators the same GME performance and value enjoyed by recreational boaters.
The MT403FG has an additional 16 Channel parallel GPS receiver with top mounted Quad Helix antenna to improve location accuracy to better than 100 metres typically.
The cost of 406 MHz beacon ownership has been dramatically lowered by the introduction of the MT403FG. GME's unique energy conserving microprocessor technology enables the battery replacement period to be extended to 6 years. This technology has significantly reduced both the size and accordingly the replacement price. The MT403FG is factory programmed with a unique serial number which should be registered with the appropriate national Search and Rescue Authority. In many countries, authorities permit the EPIRB to be coded with the vessel's Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number or Radio Call Sign. This reprogramming is undertaken by a GME authorised Dealer.
Advantages of a 406 MHz EPIRB over the older analogue EPIRBs include worldwide coverage, position location accuracy to within 5 kms (100 m for the GPS models) and a more stable transmitted signal resulting in faster response time. Most importantly, the addition of a unique digitally coded message provides Search and Rescue authorities with vital information including the country of beacon registration and identification of the vessel in distress thus greatly reducing the incidence of false alerts and unnecessary deployment of valuable rescue resources.
An auxiliary homing transmitter is included in the MT403FG to enable suitably equipped Search and Rescue vessels to home in on the distress beacon.
GME has been designing and manufacturing EPIRB's for over 30 years, in that time literally hundreds of lives have been saved in Australia and around the world.