What is the required frequency for testing a vessel's EPIRB?

• A. Monthly.
• B. Weekly.
• C. Quarterly.
• D. Annually.

Answer: (A)

The essential point is keeping emergency beacons ready to work at a moment’s notice. An EPIRB’s battery and internal circuitry can degrade over time, even if the device isn’t used. A monthly check uses the beacon’s self-test function to verify that the electronics, battery status indicator, and antenna are all functioning and that the unit would be able to transmit when needed. This frequent check helps catch problems like weak batteries, corrosion, or loose connections early, before an actual distress situation.

Note that the self-test usually does not send a real distress signal over the air; it confirms the device would transmit properly if activated. Doing this monthly balances practicality with the need for reliability, whereas waiting longer could allow a fault to go undetected, and testing too often would be unnecessarily burdensome.