Personal Locator Beacon

Yacht Uses Alert for Rescue off the Solomon Islands

Two people were rescued after their Personal Locator Beacon alerted HM Coastguard to the fact their yacht was in trouble off the Solomon Islands.The Coastguard received the alert from the British-flagged vessel just after 9pm last night (December 13) from a position within Solomon Sea, about 20 miles south of San Jorge Island. In turn, HM Coastguard contacted the Maritime Rescue Control Center at Honiara and the authorities there began the search and rescue. A passing merchant vessel picked up two people, safe and well at around 4am (14 December).

Six rescued from Sinking Vessel off Bahamas

A good Samaritan sailing vessel rescued six people from a sinking sailing vessel early Monday 14 miles west north west of Hog Cay, Bahamas. Watchstanders with the Coast Guard 7th District Command Center received a 406 megahertz personal locator beacon distress alert and the Halifax Joint Rescue Coordination Centre received a report from the sailing vessel Serenity, within the same area as the PLB alert, stating they were taking on water and abandoning ship. The Serenity crew stated they had two adults, four children and two dogs aboard. The watchstanders directed the launch of a Coast Guard Air Station Miami HC-144 Ocean Sentry airplane crew to search.

Image courtesy of the McMurdo Group

McMurdo to Showcase Products in Newport

The McMurdo range of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) MOB devices will be on display in booth D92 at the 2014 Newport International Boat Show, September 11-14 at the Newport Yachting Center in Newport, Rhode Island. The compact McMurdo Smartfind Plus G5 GPS EPIRB features a high performance, multi-channel GPS which brings the location accuracy down to typically less than 62 meters, greatly increasing the chances of rescue in an emergency situation.

Photo: Ocean Signal

Ocean Signal Launches New PLB at Miami Boat Show

Ocean Signal introduced the Personal Locator Beacon, the rescueME PLB1, at the Progressive Miami International Boat Show and Strictly Sail. Developed to fit on to any lifejacket and easily activated by one hand,operation of the rescueME PLB1 is simple. All that is required to activate the PLB is for the antenna to be extended, the protective cover flipped up and the button pressed. The retractable antenna and flip-up cover have been specifically designed to prevent inadvertent use.

M15S Receiver with Splitter

McMurdo’s New Range of AIS Products

McMurdo, a business of the Orolia Group (NYSE Alternext Paris – FR0010501015 – ALORO) unveiled its new range of AIS products at METS (Marine Equipment Trade Show) taking place in Amsterdam. Expanding its portfolio of AIS technologies, the new range includes the Smartfind M5 AIS Class A Transponder, the Smartfind M10 AIS Class B Transponder, the Smartfind M15 AIS Receiver and the Smartfind M15S AIS Receiver with VHF splitter. The new range is now on display on the Orolia stand…

ErgoFit  LifeJacket

Crewsaver Launches ErgoFit

Crewsaver, a UK’s marine safety and watersports equipment manufacturer, is pleased to announce the global launch of its high-performance ErgoFit Lifejacket Collection, the “must have” range for anyone who takes safety on the water seriously. Crewsaver unveiled its revolutionary ErgoFit range at METS 2012 (Marine Equipment Trade Show) in Amsterdam, the international marine leisure industry’s largest trade show. The Ultimate Lifejacket Collection comprises the ErgoFit 290 Ocean, ErgoFit 190 Offshore and ErgoFit 190 Coastal.