How to Register your EPIRB with IMRAD

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What is EPIRB Registration and Why is it Required?

An EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) must be registered with a national authority before it can be used legally on board a vessel. Registration links the device’s unique 15-digit HEX identification code to your vessel’s details and emergency contact information, allowing the Irish Coast Guard — and search and rescue services worldwide — to identify your vessel instantly if the beacon activates.

In Ireland, EPIRB registration is mandatory under national and international legislation and is managed through the Irish Maritime Radio Licence System (IMRAD) , operated by An Roinn Iompair (Department of Transport). Registration must be completed online; there is no paper-based alternative.

You can access the IMRAD system at the following link:
https://www.irishmaritimeradiolicencesystem.gov.ie/

IMRAD home page showing Go to My Portal button — **Step 1 – Log in to IMRAD and navigate to your portal.** Visit the Irish Maritime Radio Licence System (IMRAD) and log in using your registered credentials. From the home page, click **“Go to My Portal”** to access your vessel licences and EPIRB records. The site also features a **Licence Requirements Calculator**, which provides guidance on the radio operator qualifications and equipment required based on your vessel type and area of operation. If you are an existing licence holder and are unsure of your login credentials, use the Forgot Password facility or contact imrad@transport.gov.ie for assistance.

IMRAD My Existing Licences dashboard showing vessel licence tile — **Step 2 – Select your vessel licence from the dashboard.** After logging in, the **“My Existing Licences”** dashboard displays all vessel licences linked to your account, each shown as a tile with the Licence Number and Vessel Name. Click on the tile for the vessel to which the EPIRB is fitted to open that licence record. If you hold licences for multiple vessels, take care to select the correct one before proceeding. Note that an EPIRB may be added to both an existing issued licence and to a licence application that is currently awaiting approval.

IMRAD vessel licence page showing View and Print options — **Step 3 – Open the vessel licence record.** Once inside your vessel’s licence record, you will see options to **“View and Print Issued Licence”** and **“View and Print EPIRB Registration”**, along with further options to edit and review the licence. To register or update an EPIRB, you will need to click into **“Edit/Review Licence”**, which opens the full Review Ships Radio Application page. This page confirms your Licence Number and Vessel Name — always verify these match the vessel on which the EPIRB is installed. Both an active licence and a pending application are valid for EPIRB registration purposes.

Review Ships Radio Application page showing Steps 1 and 2 with green status indicators — **Step 4 – Review your Ships Radio Application.** The Review Ships Radio Application page provides a step-by-step summary of your entire licence application, with each section colour-coded as **Good** (green), **Warning** (amber), or **Action Required** (red). Steps 1 (Radio Operator Certificate Details) and Step 2 (Vessel Details) are shown at the top of the page. Scroll down to locate the **EPIRB Details** section, then click its **“Review”** button to add or update your EPIRB information. Importantly, the system allows EPIRB details to be added and edited even after the initial application form has been submitted.

Review Ships Radio Application showing Steps 3, 4 and EPIRB Details Review button — **Step 5 – Navigate to the EPIRB Details section.** Scrolling down the Review Ships Radio Application page reveals all remaining steps, including Step 3 (Emergency Contact Details), Step 4 (Equipment Details), and the dedicated **EPIRB Details** section at the bottom. Click the **“Review”** button beside EPIRB Details to enter the EPIRB management screen. The note beneath this section confirms that EPIRB details can be added or updated at any point, even post-submission. Ensure all other sections of the application are marked as “Good” before finalising your licence.

IMRAD EPIRB Details page showing list of EPIRBs already registered and the Add EPIRB button — **Step 6 – Add a new EPIRB to your vessel record.** The EPIRB Details page (Step 5 of 5 in the application) displays all EPIRBs currently registered to your vessel — each can be reviewed or edited by clicking the corresponding link. To register a new device, click the **“Add EPIRB”** button in the lower right corner of the page. All EPIRBs registered to a vessel can be reviewed and updated through IMRAD at any time. Any older EPIRBs that are no longer in service should be disposed of correctly and their details removed from your vessel’s record, as decommissioned beacons can trigger false distress alerts and divert Irish Coast Guard resources unnecessarily.

IMRAD Add/Edit EPIRB form showing all required fields including manufacturer, model, battery expiry and HEX code — **Step 7 – Complete the EPIRB details form.** The Add/Edit EPIRB form requires several key fields: **EPIRB Manufacturer**, **EPIRB Model**, **Mounting Type**, **Battery Expiry Date**, **Serial Number**, and **EPIRB HEX Code**. The battery expiry date must be a valid future date — if your battery has expired, the device should be serviced before registration, as an out-of-date battery renders the EPIRB non-compliant. Only equipment bearing a valid **MED (wheelmark)** or **CE mark** is acceptable for use on board Irish licensed vessels. Complete all required fields (marked with an asterisk) before clicking **“Save”**.

IMRAD Add EPIRB form with EPIRB HEX Code field highlighted and warning about accuracy — **Step 8 – Enter the EPIRB HEX Code with care.** The **EPIRB HEX Code** (also referred to as the Hexadecimal ID) is a 15-digit identifier that is uniquely programmed into your EPIRB by the supplier and must incorporate your vessel’s **MMSI number**. It is essential that you provided your MMSI to your EPIRB supplier at the point of purchase so that the device could be correctly encoded. Any error in this field will result in vessel misidentification in the event of an emergency activation, which can critically delay a search and rescue response by the Irish Coast Guard. Double-check the HEX ID against the label on your EPIRB before saving the form.

Review Ships Radio Application page with EPIRB Details now showing as complete — **Step 9 – Confirm the EPIRB Details section is complete.** After saving your EPIRB information, you are returned to the Review Ships Radio Application page, where the EPIRB Details section should now reflect the updated status. Review all steps on this page and ensure there are no outstanding **“Action Required”** flags before proceeding. If any section is incomplete or flagged, use the corresponding **“Review”** button to resolve it. Once all sections are in order, your EPIRB registration is confirmed within the licence application.

IMRAD vessel licence page with cursor on View and Print EPIRB Registration button — **Step 10 – Print your EPIRB Registration certificate.** Return to your vessel’s licence overview page and click **“View and Print EPIRB Registration”** to generate a PDF certificate confirming your registered EPIRB details. It is good practice to keep a printed or digital copy of this document aboard your vessel. You can return to this page at any time to print an updated certificate after making changes to your EPIRB record. The certificate is issued by **An Roinn Iompair (Department of Transport)** and confirms the device details held in IMRAD’s national database.

Completed EPIRB registration PDF document from the Department of Transport showing GME MT403 details — **Step 11 – Your completed EPIRB registration certificate.** The completed registration document, issued by **An Roinn Iompair (Department of Transport)**, confirms all EPIRB details registered against your vessel, including the manufacturer, model, serial number, and hexadecimal identification number. This certificate is the official record used by the **Irish Coast Guard** to identify your vessel and contact emergency personnel in the event of a distress signal. All EPIRBs registered to your vessel can be reviewed and updated through IMRAD at any time — it is your responsibility to keep these details current. Any EPIRB that is no longer in use should be disposed of appropriately and its details removed from your vessel record to prevent false activations.

A template of a completed EPIRB registration certificate is available below. You may find it helpful to print this out and use it as a reference when gathering the information required for your application — such as your EPIRB manufacturer, model, serial number, and HEX code — before logging in to IMRAD.

⚠️ Please note: This template is provided as a reference aid only. It is not a valid registration document and will not be accepted by IMRAD if submitted in place of an online registration.

Information Reproduced from IMRAD Guidance Information Videos – available directly at https://www.irishmaritimeradiolicencesystem.gov.ie/videos

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How to Register your EPIRB with IMRAD

How to Register your EPIRB with IMRAD

What is EPIRB Registration and Why is it Required?

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