vessels - Mobilarm V100 water-activated personal locator beacon

Mobilarm V100: Water activated personal locator beacon for man overboard alert and in water tracking via VHF radio

The Mobilarm V100 is the first water activated personal locator beacon to provide an automatic man overboard alert and in water tracking using the marine VHF radio band.

The Mobilarm V100 automatically transmits a Man Overboard distress alert for the person in the water via VHF DSC (Digital Selective Calling) within seconds of the fall overboard. Once the device acquires a GPS lock, typically in 45 to 60 seconds, it will transmit the man overboard alert again via DSC, complete with the current latitude and longitude coordinates of the person in the water. It then broadcasts the complete Mayday message in a synthesised voice on channel 16, the marine radio emergency channel. These automated messages will be received by all vessels in the vicinity that have a VHF radio on board, including the distressed mariner's vessel and any onshore VHF receiver.

The DSC and voice messages are repeated at regular intervals to provide in water tracking of the casualty - the first known position is marked and tracked as they drift, providing rescuers with valuable information about where to perform the search.

Messages continue until the device is deactivated. The Mobilarm V100 battery will support transmission for a minimum of 12 hours and with a 1W transmitter, it has an alerting range of approximately 2 to 10NM. It also features a high-intensity SOLAS compliant strobe light for visual homing.

Time in the water is directly related to the casualty's chances of survival so reaction time in a man overboard incident is critical. The Mobilarm V100's localised Mayday generates a much quicker response to the man overboard incident than when using conventional Personal Locator Beacons; and by directly alerting the people in the best position to carry out a rescue - the crew on board the closest vessel - a rescue team can be deployed almost immediately, vastly improving the man overboard's chances of being found, and found alive.