EPIRB signal: Confirmation by email
von Ulrich Holland / E-Mail: hugos_4@web.de |
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406 EPIRB signals have a high percentage of false alert. Therefore they need
confirmation from a different source in order to trigger a (immediate)
search; e.g. the EPIRB signals by S.V."Leviathan" on June 8, 2001 North of
Madagascar did not lead to a timely search and rescue -- mainly because of
lack of confirmation. (see Dec.02 issue of Cruising World; search google:
"Leviathan EPIRB").
More and more cruising sailboats have email via SSB-radio. This SSB-email could play a crucial role in confirming the EPIRB signals. But the Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC) wood need to have an "Emergency-email-address" for confirmation of possible MAYDAY or PAN related information. 1.) The S.V. activating an EPIRB signal could send a (partially pre-prepared) SSB-email to the RCC with the confirmation of the activation (name of S.V., EPIRB-registration# date, time, position) and additional information like nature of distress and number of people on board [with a copy to the registered contact back home]. 2.) In case the S.V. has a Magellan-GSC100, a handheld GPS which can send emails via satellite: The crew can update the information as above even from the life raft. 3.) If ,like in S.V."Leviathan" case, the S.V. has daily SSB-radio contacts with other boats/stations, and the S.V. reports problems which could lead to a MAYDAY situation and they miss their next radio schedule: Then one of the boats/stations could report this to the above "Emergency-email-address" at a RCC. 4.) When under way, the S.V. should SSB-email its position, date, time, destination, actual/expected weather conditions and speed/course about every 2 days to the registered contact back home. Even SSB-email does not work all the time and depends e.g. on propagation, it still could make the difference in saving lives or not. |
