Category: System Overview

On 10 October 2016, a French Polynesian yacht with two on board had lost power.

Its Cospas-Sarsat EPIRB was detected by the MEOSAR system at 05:33 UTC, with confirmation at 05:50, providing rescuers with more than a three and a half hour time advantage over LEOSAR.

Without the MEOSAR data, the Australian JRCC would have had to either manage a response to two locations, or delay the response.

Instead, the MEOSAR location allowed the Australian JRCC to use one Doppler location to task rescuers to one location without delay.

A fishing vessel’s EPIRB was intermittently sending out distress calls near the straight between the Isle of Wight and southern England.

Solent Coastguard had been unable to contact the vessel by VHF radio, and a lifeboat was launched to investigate.

It is important to stay reachable in order to communicate with search and rescue authorities, conserve resources, and possibly help others.

Read more here:
http://www.islandecho.co.uk/news/emergency-beacon-activation-sparks-lifeboat-launch 

The Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat hosted the 30th Joint Committee Meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada chaired by Mr. Michael Donald from Canada. The OWG and TWG were chaired by Dr. John Ophel from Australia and Mr. Yoan Gregoire from France.

The meeting was attended by 170 people, and included delegates from the four Cospas-Sarsat Parties, thirty-one Participant countries, five Observer organisations, and members of the Secretariat.

Link to group photo

The 2016 Task Group Meeting on MEOSAR Evolution was held in Montreal, Canada from 20 to 24 June 2016. Mr. Andrey Fedoseev (Russian Federation) chaired the meeting.

63 people, including members of 14 Cospas-Sarsat Participants, one Observer Organization and the Secretariat took part in the meeting.

TG-2/2016 Photo

A Swedish man was travelling by boat from Djurö, Stockholm archipelago to Vormsi, Estonia when he got lost and ran out of fuel.

Within fifteen minutes of his first PLB message, an encoded position was received and SAR helicopters, Swedish Coast Guard aircraft and surface units were tasked.

He and his boat were found at the encoded position by a SAR helicopter and he was transported to hospital.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Medium-altitude Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) system for emergency distress beacon detection is now operational and supporting search and rescue response in Australia.

“In one search and rescue incident alone, MEOSAR was able to confirm the location of a person in distress two hours before the existing system,” Kinley said.

“Australian is the biggest user of distress beacons in the world on a per capita basis, with more than 450,000 beacons currently registered.”

Read more here:

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/australia-gets-new-distress-beacon-detection-system 

An AMSA spokeswoman said the man told rescuers when the beast attacked, it was the “fastest he’s ever paddled”.

“The kayaker was in good health due to rationing water and food over the time,” they reported.

“Eventually making the decision to set his beacon off in distress.”

Although not registered, the AMSA said the beacon was vital to the rescue of the kayaker.

Read more here:
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/update-coast-guard-talks-kayaker-rescue-after-croc/3073426/ 

When the 220-foot fishing vessel started taking on water on the morning of 26 July 2016, all crew members donned survival suits and got into three rafts.

An emergency beacon alerted the Coast Guard to the sinking ship just after 11:30 a.m.

Two Good Samaritan ships rushed to the scene in response to the Coast Guard’s emergency broadcast for help, as did two other merchant vessels.

Read more here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/drama-at-sea-off-alaska-as-dozens-abandon-sinking-fishing-boat/ 

A man leapt into the water from his sinking boat off Point Cartwright, Queensland, Australia, with his EPIRB, and set off two flares on Wednesday night.

He spent about 40 minutes in the water when a pilot boat spotted his flare, and then the light from his EPIRB, after being given coordinates picked up by AMSA in Canberra.

Brisbane Marine Pilots community relations officer said “It just goes to show if you have your EPIRB, flares and a life jacket, you can be as well as you can expect to be in the circumstances.”

Read more here:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/passing-vessel-rescues-boatie-after-tinnie-sinks/3065922/ 

Following the decision taken at the last Joint Committee at JC-29, supported by ICAO and IMO, Italy and Serbia consolidated their cooperation in Search and Rescue activities supported by Cospas-Sarsat system.

On 20 July 2016, Italy Mission Control Center Director, CDR (CG) Pantaleo Dell’Olio and Civil Aviation Directorate of Serbia Director, Ms. Miriana Cizmarov signed the cooperation Protocol for Distribution and Reception of Cospas-Sarsat Distress Alert Data for Search and Rescue.

Italy, as signatory of ICSPA and Ground Segment provider, will guarantee the delivery of distress alert and location data generated by the Cospas-Sarsat System to the Serbia RCC as a National SAR Point of Contact.

The exchange of data and information is based on solid communication links periodically tested and monitored, aimed to guarantee a prompt and secure delivery of an alert and its related information.

The two Cospas-Sarsat associated members have been collaborating for many years in this capacity and the signature of the Protocol is a confirmation of the excellent cooperation that they have in place.

The Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat will be the depositary of the agreement.