New safety equipment from Ocean Signal
Ocean Signal is a specialist company developing mainly electronic equipment designed to improve the safety of people working at sea and to meet SOLAS requirements. Now the company is introducing a range of new equipment that covers most of the mandatory requirements for work and fishing boats that are designed for simple and reliable operation under adverse conditions.
For personal use there is the new professional man overboard device which incorporates both AIS and 121.5MHz signals to help ensure detection. This compact unit is designed to be worn with the crewman’s lifejacket and once activated the crewman’s position can be detected by search and rescue resources equipped with suitable receivers. The integrated 66 channel GPS ensures a position update is provided every minute via AIS.
The Ocean Signal M100 has enough battery power for 12 hours of operation and it comes with a 2 year warranty and a 5 year battery life. Unlike other MOB systems the M100 only needs to be serviced once every two years.
There are also three new products in the 3Si Guardian range of equipment. These include the CAT1/CAT2 EPIRB, the GPS Buoyant PLB and the SART (Search and Rescue Transponder.
The 3Si Guardian CAT1/CAT2 EPIRB broadcasts a unique registered distress signal that not only tells rescuers where you are, but who you are. The internal 66 channel GPS will automatically turn on and acquire your position upon activation and then utilizes a powerful 406 MHz signal to relay your distress call to orbiting satellites. As local Search and Rescue is deployed, a separate homing signal and integrated LED strobe light guide rescuers to your exact location. The ergonomic and compact design makes the 3Si EPIRB one of the smallest available.
The 3Si Guardian GPS Buoyant Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is pocket sized at just 114mm long and weighing 150g. Using GPS positioning, a powerful 406 MHz signal, and the 121.5 MHz homing capability this PLB quickly and accurately relays your position to a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites. A built-in strobe light provides visibility during night rescues and its powerful 66-channel GPS guides rescuers to within 100 metres or less of the casualty position.
The 3Si Guardian SART is designed to meet the mandatory requirement for all commercial vessels to conform to GMDSS, and any vessel carrying more than one life raft. Special features include a test mode which provides visual/audible feedback confirming the operational status. This SART easily packs into a liferaft, uses non-hazardous 5-year lithium batteries and is waterproof to 10 metres. It has worldwide certification complying with international regulations.
All of these products have received official SOLAS and other approvals which make them fully authorized for use worldwide.
By Dag Pike
