International Cospas-Sarsat Programme

International Satellite System For Search and Rescue
Welcome to the Cospas-Sarsat website!
If you encounter any problems or broken links or wish to comment on this website please contact the Secretariat by email.
 
The Mission

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme provides accurate, timely, and reliable distress alert and location data to help search and rescue authorities assist persons in distress. [Read more]

 
System Operations

Interested in learning how the Cospas-Sarsat System works?

2SatellitesOrbiting

 
International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD)
The Cospas-Sarsat Programme is pleased to announce the availability of an online capability to register 406 MHz distress beacons. Beta version of the Bulk Upload software now available.
 
Testing Your Beacon

All you want to know and avoid, when testing your 406 MHz Beacon.

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System Status
As of December 2008 the Cospas-Sarsat System had provided assistance in rescuing about 27,000 persons in over 7,200 incidents. [Read more]
 
406 MHz Beacons
Are you looking for a type approved beacon? Do you require assistance with beacon coding or registration? Or do you simply want to decode the beacon that you own? Follow the links for beacons in the menu.
 
Switch to 406!

121.5/243 MHz processing by Cospas-Sarsat ceased on 1 February 2009

The International Cospas-Sarsat System has ceased satellite processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons on 1 February 2009. All beacon owners and users should replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible. [Read more]

Más información en español

 

What's New

-  EPIRB saves the Lifes of 3 Yatchsmen at Sea
 26 August 2010. Three French yachtsmen owe their lives today to their 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) when rescued over 500 miles off course, in the Atlantic. At 7:25am...
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-  EWG-2/2010 Meeting Documentation Now Available
 Some documents submitted to the upcoming EWG-2/2010 Meeting on Next Generation Beacon Requirements are now available on the Cospas-Sarsat website. To download Cospas-Sarsat meeting documentation,...
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-  Men Rescued in Heavy Seas near Niue, New Zealand
 2 August 2010.      MEN RESCUED IN HEAVY SEAS NEAR NIUE, NZ    Two men have been rescued by a cargo ship after their yacht capsized in stormy seas near Niue yesterday,...
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-  Serbia becomes the 43rd Participant to the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme
 17 June 2010, Montreal.Serbia deposited its letter of Notification of Association with the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme as a User State during a brief ceremony at the ICAO headquarters on 17...
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