McMurdo EPIRBS/Locating Beacons

McMurdo SmartFind EPIRBs: Engineering Rescue Technology That Saves Lives

When it comes to maritime safety, few names carry as much weight as McMurdo. A globally recognized leader in emergency beacon technology, McMurdo has spent decades at the forefront of search-and-rescue innovation — and nowhere is that heritage more evident than in their lineup of EPIRBs and locating beacons. These are not passive safety checkboxes; they represent some of the most advanced distress alerting technology available to mariners anywhere in the world.

The SmartFind Series: A New Standard in Emergency Alerting

McMurdo's flagship EPIRB lineup is the SmartFind series, with the SmartFind G8 and SmartFind G8 AIS sitting at the top of the range. Launched in 2018, the McMurdo SmartFind G8 AIS was the world's first EPIRB to include 406MHz, 121.5MHz, AIS, and GNSS to accelerate search and rescue. That multi-protocol approach means a single device can alert rescue coordination centers via satellite while simultaneously broadcasting its position to nearby AIS-equipped vessels — dramatically narrowing the window between distress and rescue.

The top-of-the-range G8 AIS is the world's first QUADROTECH® EPIRB, with four search and rescue frequencies: 406 MHz, 121.5MHz swept tone VHF homer, GNSS, and AIS. This convergence of technologies addresses every phase of a rescue operation — alerting, locating, tracking, and final recovery — in one rugged unit.

Multi-Constellation GNSS for Pinpoint Accuracy

The G8 EPIRB offers global 406MHz professional search and rescue alert, with the added benefit of dual GNSS receivers, including Galileo and GPS, to accelerate location detection. This multi-constellation approach means the beacon can draw from a wider pool of satellites, improving both the speed and accuracy of position fixes — a critical advantage when every minute matters.

MEOSAR Compatibility and Cutting-Edge Infrastructure

McMurdo is the only EPIRB manufacturer that builds and supports the Cospas-Sarsat satellite ecosystem's infrastructure. Their SmartFind beacons are optimized for the MEOSAR (Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue) satellite network, which offers near-instantaneous signal detection and improved accuracy over older LEOSAR systems. This infrastructure-level involvement gives McMurdo a unique insight into how beacon signals are processed end-to-end — and they build that knowledge directly into their products.

Infrared Detection and Night Visibility

McMurdo SmartFind G8 PLUS EPIRBs benefit from an AIS locating signal, visible to AIS receiver-equipped vessels in the vicinity, and an Infrared (Night-Vision) optical signal to aid detection of survivors in low light conditions. Infrared is detectable at greater range and in poorer conditions than standard EPIRB lights, therefore further accelerating recovery times.

Category 1 and Category 2 Configurations

McMurdo's SmartFind EPIRBs are available in both Category 1 and Category 2 deployment configurations to suit different vessel types and operational requirements. Category 1 EPIRB models are supplied inside a float-free auto-housing and automatically deploy and activate when in contact with water, though they can also be manually activated. Category 2 EPIRB models are supplied with a unique SmartTransfer bracket to prevent accidental activation; once manually removed from the bracket, the EPIRB activates manually or via water contact. The auto-housing is also designed for easy upgrades — the SMARTFIND auto-housing incorporates fixing points which ensure previous McMurdo auto-housing units can be retrofitted with minimum impact when upgrading your vessel's EPIRB.

Long Battery Life and Responsible Maintenance

The SmartFind G8 PLUS EPIRB is supplied with a ten-year battery, but battery replacement kits have a minimum five-year battery to encourage regular professional checks of the units and reduce the likelihood of beacons remaining on board vessels beyond the recommended operational life. McMurdo also recommends a 5-year health check at an approved service agent to ensure every beacon is ready when it's needed most.

For mariners who take safety seriously, McMurdo's EPIRBs represent a proven, internationally certified solution backed by decades of innovation. Explore the full McMurdo brand or browse all EPIRBs and locating beacons to find the right beacon for your vessel.