Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1

I would like to introduce you to the Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1, the world's smallest PLB (personal locator beacon). This unit has a 7 year battery storage life, a 7 year warranty and a host of features that are all condensed into a small, light weight portable device.

Introducing the world’s smallest PLB

• 30% smaller (typ) by volume
• Easily fits in lifejacket
• Retractable Antenna
• 7 Year Battery Life
• 7 year warranty
• High brightness strobe light >1candela
• 66 channel GPS receiver
• Unique mounting clip and flotation pouch

Give yourself peace of mind knowing you have a life saving device. The Ocean Signal RescueMe PLB1 can be purchased for under $300.00.

What if Your Rescue Hinged on an EPIRB

From the Coast Guard News, a story about an EPIRB.  Every rescue mission is different, in the event you need to be rescued having the right equipment is truly the difference between rescue and recovery.

There was no moon, and multiple cloud layers and thunderstorm cells blocked any available light provided by the stars,” said Lt. j.g. Caleb Thorp, the Hercules pilot. “The rain was near continuous, which reflected any light emitted from the aircraft and caused our night vision goggles to be useless.  So we secured as many lights on the aircraft as possible to aid the search outside.  We could only see straight down where we saw very rough seas.”

Finally, through the waves and winds, the C-130 crew received a blip on their radar that matched the profile of a sailboat.

Unable to actually see the vessel, and failing to establish communications over the radio, the Hercules crew began to fly over the boat’s location, flashing the plane’s wing tip landing lights to grab the crew’s attention.

The sailing vessel Wolfhound is seen here approximately 80-miles north of Bermuda in the FLIR camera of a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., Feb. 9, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd class Sarah Bachman and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jerimiah Strombeck

“We couldn’t see anything on the first pass, but on the second pass we saw a light cutting through the blowing rain,” said Thorp. “We flashed our lights and the sailing vessel flashed a handheld light back at the aircraft.”

The sailing vessel, later identified as the 48-foot long Wolfhound, lost all power and was at the mercy of the Atlantic Ocean.  With the power out, its radio was useless, and the four Irish nationals aboard had no other means of contacting a rescue agency.

Within six hours, both of the AMVER merchant vessels arrived on scene, led there by the Hercules crew.  The crew of the 738-foot Tetian Trader eventually came alongside the Wolfhound and helped the crew leave their stricken ship.

On average, there is a commercial ship in the AMVER system that is involved in saving a life somewhere in the world every 33 hours.

The rescue of the crew aboard the Wolfhound demonstrates how the culmination of EPIRB technology and the partnerships between multiple agencies save lives. The only other thing that might have better facilitated this successful search and rescue effort would have been if the sailboat’s EPRIB had been registered and up to date. With an unregistered EPRIB, a distress alert may be delayed before reaching the Coast Guard, often in situations in which there is not a moment to spare.

After reading this story, I would like to remind you to check the date on your EPIRB battery, make sure your EPIRB is registered and consider replacing older EPIRB technology with a GPS enabled EPIRB.

The Coast Guard, World Rescue Authorities and groups like AMVER can only do so much, you have to do your part and provide yourself with the best life saving tools available.

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EPIRB and PLB Spring Check List

If you read THIS POST last week then you know we are trying to help you check the safety gear on your boat before Spring arrives and lots of boating gets under way. This week will will focus on EPIRBs and PLBs. Both EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon)  (**note that the link is very helpful but a bit dated as the 121.5 MHz signal is no longer monitored as an emergency response signal and is now used as a fly over homing signal only**)and PLBs (Personal Locator Beacon) operate in the same way. There are differences including a longer battery life, floatation and deployment options, but they all have a battery life and expiration date! 

EPIRBs and PLBs operate on the 406 MHz frequency, if you still have 121.5 EPIRB you will need to replace it.
Starting on 1 February 2009, the Cospas-Sarsat System stopped processing signals from the deprecated 121.5 MHz and 243 MHz beacons; now only signals from 406 MHz beacons are processed. The switch to 406 MHz is expected to result in a substantial reduction in wasted use of SAR resources on false alerts while simultaneously increasing the responsiveness of the system for real distress cases.

COSPAS-SARSAT

If you have an EPIRB or PLB locate the battery expiration date and check it.

If you do not have one you should strongly consider purchasing one.

The gentleman in this post was not going to buy one but we encouraged him to purchase at least a PLB and it saved his life.

EPIRBs have to have a minimum battery life of 48 hours, they are designed to float in the water up right and transmit a signal, they also have a tether line to tied them to you or your life raft. EPIRBs come in Manual Deployment Versions and Automatic Deployment Versions. The Automatic Deployment EPIRBs have a housing and a Hydrostatic release unit that will set the EPIRB off and release it from the housing, allowing it to float to the surface and transmit. EPIRBs are also available with and with out a GPS transmitter built in. The GPS will help narrow down the search area.

PLBs will have a minimum operation time of 24 hours, they all have to be manually deployed and even though some models float they are not designed to float up right and transmit in the water like and EPIRB. PLBs usually have to be held with the antenna facing the sky. This doesn't mean your signal would not transmit if there was not a clear view of the sky, it is simply the best case scenario. Most PLB models have the built in GPS transmitter which will give rescuers a better idea of exactly where the user is.

So the check list is as follows:

Be sure the EPIRB is a 406 MHz and not a 121.5 MHz operating unit. It is OK to have both.

Be sure the battery is not expired

If the battery is expired find a factory authorized replacement center in your area.

Preform the manufactures self test

If it is an Automatic Deployment Unit check the date on the Hydrostatic Release

(good for 2 years)

Make sure the Housing is in working condition

For PLBs

Check the battery and perform the self test.

Safe boating is the best boating. Come back later in the week as we highlight some rescue stories and introduce you to AMVER (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System , there are some rescue stories like these that resulted because of AMVER.

Also don't forget to fan us on Facebook for our Daily Deal section of our Website using QR Code and a password only fans get... the savings are Awesome!!

Warning From the USCG on EPIRB Battery replacements

November 30, 2009 Alert 08-09



Washington, DC


UNAPPROVED EPIRB BATTERY REPLACEMENTS


Fishing vessel safety staff in the Coast Guard’s Seventh District has received at least three reports in


the past few months regarding unapproved replacements of 406 EPIRB batteries by servicing


companies having no association with the EPIRB manufacturer. These unauthorized battery


installations would likely result in a failure of this critical item of lifesaving equipment, and as such are


not in compliance with the operational readiness requirements of 46 CFR.


The following is a typical excerpt from an EPIRB manufacturer report:


“The unit was opened and a foreign battery was found inside. The battery was built up using


(manufacturer) fuses and wiring salvaged from the original (manufacturer) battery. They then


covered their battery with the original (manufacturer) yellow heat shrink, (manufacturer) labels


and taped it together. This was then covered with a black heat shrink wrap. The connections


were soldered and not spot welded, as is required by the design and is performed in


(manufacturer) production. The battery measured 8.7 volts. Our batteries read 9+ volts when


they are new. This battery was installed one week prior to it being brought into (manufacturer).


There was also evidence of water intrusion due to the crack in the top cap, which (servicing


company) did not recognize as they are not trained in these matters.


The EPIRB was condemned by (manufacturer) and the customer was notified when he came


to pick the unit up.”


Every approved (i.e., accepted by the FCC) EPIRB is tested during its approval process using a


battery, or batteries, specified by the manufacturer. Approved EPIRBs come with a user's manual


which describes battery maintenance and replacement procedures. In order for the EPIRB to remain


within the conditions of its approval, the manufacturer's instructions in the user's manual must be


adhered to. To ensure that replacement batteries are of the same type with which the EPIRB was


approved, and are correctly installed, manufacturers typically specify that battery replacements only


be done by the manufacturer or a manufacturer-approved shop.


Any modification or changes to an EPIRP must be made in accordance with the manufacturer. The


use of alternative replacement parts or batteries is prohibited and may prevent the device from


meeting lifesaving requirements. The Coast Guard strongly reminds EPIRB owners and servicing


facilities to be aware of the compliance implications and potential for equipment failure stemming from


any EPIRB modification or unauthorized battery replacement.


This safety alert is provided for informational purposes only and does not relieve any domestic or


international safety, operational or material requirement. Questions regarding the information


presented in this alert may be addressed to LCDR Vince Gamma of the U.S. Coast Guard


Headquarters Lifesaving & Fire Safety Standards Division at 202.372.1396 or


Vincent.A.Gamma@uscg.mil.


********

Good information

COSPAS/SARSAT
Everyone should know about this information and how this system works especially boaters.

EPIRBs and PLBs are monitored here but not the SPOT messenger.

On the subject of EPIRBs

This is link is to a great article. Thanks to these guys for putting this out there.

http://www.soundingsonline.com/news/dispatches/252-aug-25/239482-epirbs-a-primer

Thank You for Your Business

Adrienne Rust

Triad Marine & Industrial Supply

1155 FM 518

Kemah,TX 77565

281-334-0815

Fax- 281-334-0041

arust@triadmarine.com

If you have a 121 Signal EPIRB it is time to upgrade!

We suggest when you upgrade to 406 signal you also include a GPS as it is just one more tool you will have should they need to look for you!




February 1, 2009: The Phaseout of 121.5 MHz Beacons
for Satellite Distress Alerting

In October 2000 the International Cospas-Sarsat Program, announced at its 25th Council Session held in London, UK that it plans to terminate satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5 and 243 MHz emergency beacons on February 1, 2009. All mariners, aviators, and individuals using emergency beacons on those frequencies will need to switch to those operating on the newer, more reliable, digital
406 MHz frequency if they want to be detected by satellites.

The decision to stop satellite processing of 121.5 / 243 MHz signals is due to problems in this frequency band which inundate search and rescue authorities with poor accuracy and numerous false alerts, adversely impacting the effectiveness of lifesaving services. Although the 406 MHz beacons cost more at the moment, they provide search and rescue agencies with more reliable and complete information to do their job more efficiently and effectively. The Cospas-Sarsat Program made the decision to terminate 121.5/243 MHz satellite alerting services, in part, in response to guidance from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These two agencies of the United Nations are responsible for regulating the safety on international transits of ships and aircraft, respectively, and handling international standards and plans for maritime and aviation search and rescue. More than 180 nations are members of IMO and ICAO.

NOAA, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, and NASA (the four Federal Agencies who manage, operate, and use the SARSAT system) are strongly advising users of 121.5/243 MHz beacons to make the switch to 406. Meanwhile, anyone planning to buy a new distress beacon may wish to take the Cospas-Sarsat decision into account.


Here is a link to the page so you can get more information as it could be helpful to you in the future. This is an important switch and the information is vital!

http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/phaseout.html