PLB & AIS Units

This category covers Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and AIS man-overboard units – compact, personal safety electronics carried by an individual rather than mounted on the boat, for anyone who wants a way to be found even if separated from the vessel.

A PLB works like a personal EPIRB: registered to an individual rather than a boat, small enough to clip to a lifejacket, and transmitting your position via satellite if activated – just as relevant for hillwalking as for boating, so it’s a sensible investment even beyond your time on the water. An AIS man-overboard unit works differently: rather than (or as well as) a satellite alert, it broadcasts your position directly to nearby vessels fitted with AIS receivers, which can bring help faster in busy waters like a shipping lane or a crowded anchorage than waiting for a satellite-relayed rescue response. Many offshore sailors carry a PLB per crew member as standard practice, on the basis that a lifejacket alone doesn’t help rescuers find someone in open water once separated from the boat.

As with EPIRBs, PLBs need registering with the Irish Coast Guard after purchase.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register a PLB the same way as an EPIRB?

Yes – register it with the Irish Coast Guard after purchase, the same as an EPIRB.

What does an AIS man-overboard unit do differently from a PLB?

It broadcasts your position directly to nearby AIS-equipped vessels rather than relying solely on a satellite alert, which can bring help faster in busy waters.

Should every crew member carry their own PLB?

Many offshore sailors do – a PLB per person means rescuers can locate someone even if they’re separated from the boat, which a boat-mounted EPIRB alone can’t do.