The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is reminding divers it is now a criminal offence to carry an unregistered 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) on a UK-flagged vessel or mechanically propelled watercraft.
This applies to all existing PLBs as well as new ones purchased going forward. Non-compliance can result in prosecution of the ship owner, master, or PLB owner.
What has changed - and why it matters
The Merchant Shipping (EPIRB and PLB Registration and Radiocommunications) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, published on 24 March 2026, have replaced the old Merchant Shipping (EPIRB Registration) Regulations 2000. Under the previous rules, registering a PLB was strongly recommended but entirely voluntary. That era is over.
The new legislation extends mandatory beacon registration — which already applied to EPIRBs — to cover 406 MHz PLBs carried on UK registered ships, hovercraft, and mechanically propelled watercraft. The registration is free of charge and takes around 15 minutes online.
Who is affected and what 'motorcraft' includes
The regulations cover a wide range of vessels. If your craft is mechanically propelled and UK-flagged, you are in scope. This includes:
- Leisure vessels: motor cruisers, RIBs, sports boats, and other motorised pleasure craft
- Commercial vessels: fishing boats, charter vessels, passenger craft, and cargo ships
- Hovercraft: all UK-registered hovercraft operating in a maritime environment
- Dive support vessels: motorised dive boats and support craft carrying PLBs
Important: The requirement does not apply to non-mechanically propelled craft such as kayaks, canoes, or paddleboards. However, the MCA strongly encourages anyone on the water to register their 406 MHz PLB regardless — it could save your life.
What this means for divers
The regulations explicitly acknowledge that a PLB owner may be "a fisher, leisure sailor, diver, etc." — meaning divers are directly named in the legislation's scope.
Many divers carry a PLB clipped to their BCD or drysuit as a last-resort surface signalling device after an unplanned ascent or drift. If that PLB travels to the dive site aboard a mechanically propelled vessel — a dive RIB, a charter hard boat, a support vessel — it must be registered. It does not matter that the beacon is personal and body-worn; the legal duty rests with the PLB owner.
Dive operators running multiple PLBs as shared PPE — common practice on commercial liveaboards and offshore operations — must register each device individually. The beacon's unique Hex ID must be tied to an owner in the registry so the coastguard can identify who is in distress.
How to register your PLB - a step by step guide
Registration is free, quick, and done entirely online through the GOV.UK Beacon Registration portal.
Please note: registration applies to 406 MHz PLBs. Smaller units using 156 Mhz have a limited range and so are not included in the legislation.
Step 1 — Find your beacon's Hex ID
The unique 15-character hexadecimal identification code is printed on a label on the device itself and listed in the documentation that came with your PLB.
Step 2 — Visit the GOV.UK beacon registry
Go to gov.uk and search "register a 406 MHz beacon". The customer self-service portal is the quickest route. If you have accessibility needs or are offline, you can contact the Beacon Registry directly.
Step 3 — Enter owner and vessel details
You will need: PLB owner name and contact details; vessel name and type (where applicable); emergency contact information; and the beacon Hex ID. For shared or company PLBs, the legal owner of the PLB registers the device.
Step 4 — Keep your registration up to date
Any change of ownership, contact details, or vessel must be updated promptly in the registry. An outdated registration is almost as unhelpful as no registration at all — it sends coastguard to the wrong person.
Step 5 — Retain proof of registration
Once registered, keep a copy of your registration confirmation on board. Surveyors and port state control officers may request evidence of compliance.
Once registered the owner should ensure they notify the skipper and/or Cox’n of the vessel whenever you are carrying a PLB aboard.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The 2026 Regulations specifically strengthen sanctions compared to the previous regime. Failure to register, or to keep registration current, is a criminal offence. The offence can be committed by the ship owner, the master, or the PLB owner — depending on who carries the relevant duty. The MCA has enforcement powers and port state control inspectors can check for compliance during vessel inspections.
The international legal basis sits in SOLAS Chapter IV Regulation 5-1, which obligates the UK government to maintain a registry of all GMDSS identities accessible to rescue coordination centres around the clock.
Register your 406 MHz PLB today
It is free, and takes just 15 minutes. Visit the UK 406 MHz Beacon Registry at gov.uk to register existing and new PLBs. Keep your details current. It costs nothing and could mean everything.
