What does EPIRB stand for?

• A. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon
• B. Emergency Protocol for Indicating Radio Beacon
• C. Emergency Positioning Interrogation Radio Beacon
• D. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Broadcast

Answer: (A)

EPIRB stands for Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. This is a device carried on boats that, when activated, broadcasts a distress signal to satellites so search-and-rescue authorities can locate the vessel. The signal often includes identifying information, and if the beacon has GPS, its precise position is sent as well. The term “Beacon” is used because the device indicates your location via radio signals; the other choices describe procedures or different concepts (like a protocol, an interrogation, or a broadcast) and don’t match the established name of the device. In practice, EPIRBs typically operate on 406 MHz and may provide GPS-derived location to speed up rescue through the COSPAS-SARSAT system.