What is the key operational difference between a vessel-mounted EPIRB and a personal PLB?

A. An EPIRB is only for commercial vessels; PLBs are the leisure equivalent

B. PLBs require annual recertification; EPIRBs do not

C. EPIRBs transmit on VHF Ch 16; PLBs transmit on 406 MHz only

D. An EPIRB is registered to the vessel, auto-activates on immersion, floats free in a hydrostatic release, and can be large; a PLB is personally registered, manually activated, worn by an individual, and has a shorter battery life

A. To send a digitally coded distress alert containing the vessel's MMSI and position automatically to all DSC-equipped stations and the Coastguard

B. To broadcast weather forecasts to other vessels

C. To make telephone calls from the vessel to shore

D. To operate the radar system remotely

A. A GPS waypoint identifier used in coastal navigation

B. Maritime Mobile Service Identity — a unique 9-digit number identifying the vessel; without it a DSC distress alert cannot identify the vessel to rescuers

C. A VHF channel number allocated by Ofcom for distress use only

D. A vessel survey certificate number required by the MCA