Abstract

RECONFIRMATION NOTICE
Technical Committee RC-004 has reviewed the content of this publication and in
accordance with Standards Australia procedures for reconfirmation, it has been
determined that the publication is still valid and does not require change.
Reconfirmed documents cannot be amended, but may be formally revised and a new
edition published.
Certain documents referenced in the publication may have been amended since the
original date of publication. Users are advised to ensure that they are using the latest
versions of such documents as appropriate, unless advised otherwise in this
Reconfirmation Notice.
Approved for reconfirmation in accordance with Standards Australia procedures for
reconfirmation on 13 January 2015.
Approved for reconfirmation in New Zealand on behalf of the Standards Council of
New Zealand on 21 May 2015.
Reconfirmed documents cannot be amended, but may be formally revised and a new
edition published.
The following are represented on Technical Committee RC-004:
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Australian Industry Group
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Radio Communications Industry Association
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Department of Defence (Australian Government)
Electromagnetic Technical Evaluation Committee
Maritime New Zealand
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (NZ)
Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand
Wireless Institute Australia
Yachting Australia

Scope

This Standard provides the minimum requirements for Maritime Survivor Locating Systems (MSLSs) intended for very short-range crew retrieval applications operating on 121.5 MHz commonly referred to as man-overboard systems. The MSLS is designed to allow for self-help from the vessel or organization where there is a risk of crew falling overboard by sounding an alert from the onboard receiver. MSLS transmitters are not meant to rely on alerting through the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system. From 1 February 2009 the frequency 121.5 MHz will cease to be monitored by Cospas-Sarsat as a primary distress beacon frequency and the Standard AS/NZS 4330, will then be withdrawn, as equipment covered by that Standard will no longer function as a distress beacon.
These devices are not stand alone personal EPIRBs but are part of an integrated system that also includes a receiver and warning device on the vessel, and may include some form of localizing device such as, but not limited to, direction finding equipment. While this Standard does not cover the requirements for personal beacons given in AS/NZS 4330, personal beacons may be used in conjunction with an MSLS. MSLS receivers and locators should be designed to also operate in conjunction with EPIRBs or other distress beacons covered by AS/NZS 4280 using the frequency 121.5 MHz as a homing frequency.
These minimum requirements encompass the physical characteristics of the devices, as they pertain to maritime use. For MSLS transmitters, both the radiated power and the length of time for operation are reduced to enable the equipment to be sufficiently small and light to be worn comfortably at all times when a person is operating in an open maritime environment. Some characteristics have been specified in order that MSLS beacons do not interfere with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system.
MSLS may also be developed and employed on other frequencies including those covered by the Australian Communications Authority’s Class licence for low interference impact devices or the New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development’s General user radio license. Those systems are not within the scope of this part of the Standard. The technical requirements for short-range devices are contained in AS/NZS 4268.

General Product Information

Published
Document Type	Standard
Status	Current
Publisher	Standards Australia
ProductNote	Reconfirmed 18/05/2015. This standard as been reconfirmed in Australia in 2015 and remains current in New Zealand. Reconfirmation Notice 18/05/2015
Pages
ISBN
Committee	RC-004
Supersedes	DR 06200 CP AS/NZS 4869.1:2005