The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compliant MT401FF is a "state of the art" satellite distress beacon designed to operate in conjunction with the COSPAS-SARSAT International Satellite Search and Rescue System.

Designed to meet the most demanding regulatory approvals the GME MT401FF is a Class 2, Category 1 EPIRB in a fully enclosed float free housing with a Hammar HRU that will release and activate the beacon automatically on immersion in water.

Using the same innovative technology that produced the MT400 and revolutionised the EPIRB world, the MT401FF now offers commercial vessel operators the same GME performance and value enjoyed by recreational boaters.

The cost of 406 MHz beacon ownership has been dramatically lowered by the introduction of the MT401FF. GME's unique energy conserving microprocessor technology enables the battery replacement period to be extended to 6 years. This technology has significantly reduced both the size and accordingly the replacement price. The MT401FF is factory programmed with a unique serial number which should be registered with the appropriate national Search and Rescue Authority. In many countries, authorities permit the EPIRB to be coded with the vessel's Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number or Radio Call Sign. This reprogramming is undertaken in the country by GME's authorised Dealer

Advantages of a 406 MHZ EPIRB over the older analogue EPIRBs include world wide coverage, position location accuracy to within 5 kms and a more stable transmitted signal resulting in faster response time. Most importantly, the addition of a unique digitally coded message provides Search and Rescue authorities with vital information including the country of beacon registration and identification of the vessel in distress thus greatly reducing the incidence of false alerts and unneccesary deployment of valuable rescue resources.

An auxiliary homing transmitter is included in the MT401FF to enable suitably equipped Search and Rescue forces to home on the distress beacon.

GME has been designing and manufacturing EPIRB's for over 30 years, in that time literally hundreds of lives have been saved in Australia around the world.