Grey metal Cylinder with lid with 'sardine can' opener key. Inside is the antenna wire, weather balloon and carbide crystals that when in contact with sea water produce gas to inflate the balloon and raise the antennatransmitter antenna, bendix scr 878 bq

This distress EPIRB unit (Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon) was found on the beach at Levy's Point, Warrnambool, in December 2000 by a Warrnambool resident. Local police were alerted at the time. This distress signal unit is a world-wide COSPAS/SARSAT, satellite assisted, SAR (Search and Rescue) system for location of distress transmissions emitted by an EPIRB. Offshore cruising vessels must have such a unit as part of its essential safety equipment. This model EPIRB relies on four satellites with orbit times of approximately 100 minutes. The earlier units relied solely on aircraft flying overhead to detect and forward on the EPIRB’s location to Search And Rescue authorities, whereas this new system utilises satellites. The Lokata Company was established in 1970, designing and manufacturing marine products including communications. The company no longer makes products with the “Lokata” brand. In 2001 Sartech Engineering Ltd. took over the support for the Lokata EPIRB beacons. EPIRB unit; “Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacon” Distress communication unit for sending a distress location transmission in an emergency at sea. The EPIRB is a yellow, rectangular box with dials, buttons, indicator lights and instruction, plus an antenna protruding from the top of the unit. This unit sends a 406P (X) EPIRB, with 406M-Hz frequency, 48 hour duration signal. Made by LOKATA Ltd in England. Remnants of a white label remain on the side. Circa 1970“LO-KATA” moulded into the body. “Model 406” printed on the identifying pane (other required information is undecipherable) flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, emergency position indicating radio beacon, epirb, lokata ltd, marine safety equipment, satellite transmitting beacon