Man Overboard Situations Are No Joke, Neither Is This Helpful Technology
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2018
By: Jordan Balbresky
We don’t like to think about it, but every time we go boating we should all prepare for the worst. When heading out, no matter how far you are going from shore, you should be prepared for a man overboard situation. It takes just a second for someone to fall over, even on a calm day. Everyone in your family should have a Coast Guard approved personal floatation device (PFD) that fits them properly — this includes your kids and pets. PFDs should be comfortably snug, U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and properly stowed and readily accessible. One thing to know is that PFDs are sized by weight and chest size, so you should try it on before purchasing. Coast Guard regulations further state that every child under the age of 13 must wear their PFD unless down below or in an enclosed interior space and some states have their own regulations that are even stricter.
In addition to having a personal floatation device, some kind of man overboard device is an excellent investment to protect the lives of those you love. There are many different types and styles of devices, though two types are the most popular: personal locator beacons (PLB) and AIS Man Overboard (MOB) devices. A PLB, like the McMurdo FastFind 220, ACR ResQLink+ or the rescueME PLB1 from Ocean Signal, are small devices that use satellite signals to alert world-wide rescue services of an emergency. They are ideal for the long-distance cruiser who has travelled beyond the range of VHF. However, PLBs operate on the 406MHz frequency which is good for communicating with rescue personnel via satellite but not to local vessels in the immediate area. AIS MOB devices, like the McMurdo SmartFind S20 AIS MOB, ACR AISLink MOB, or the rescueME MOB1 from Ocean Signal, on the other hand, will not only communicate with those crew members on your own vessel, but other ships in the area to aid in immediate recovery in the event of going over the rail.
One piece of equipment that is designed to work with a man overboard beacon that can make all the difference on your boat is a Vesper Marine WatchMate XB-8000 smartAIS transponder. WatchMate XB-8000 is a Class B AIS transponder which transmits your vessel position and details and receives the same kind of information from other vessels with AIS transponders.
The AIS data is sent every few seconds and includes information such as course, speed, latitude, longitude, and heading. Static information about the vessel is sent every few minutes and includes the name, type of vessel, length, beam, and draft. However, what sets the WatchMate XB-8000 smartAIS transponder apart is it is the world’s first black box AIS transponder with built-in safety alarms to make boating safer and more enjoyable.
Unlike other manufacturers’ solutions that simply send and receive AIS data, Vesper Marine’s smartAIS goes much further. An active system with smart alarm logic, it proactively alerts boaters of potentially hazardous situations. Putting users in control, smartAIS combines navigation sensor data, and GPS and AIS information, with intelligent alarm management that prioritizes alerts for the most urgent response. While traditional AIS transponders require additional equipment to trigger alarms, Vesper Marine’s smartAIS units continuously calculate crossing situations and generate collision alarms for critical action, alerts the crew of anchor dragging, and activates alarms for immediate man overboard retrieval.
The Vesper Marine smartAIS system is also always watching for MOB situations. If a family member, who is equipped with an AIS MOB device from any manufacturer has fallen overboard, smartAIS will immediately sound its alarm and will continuously update the individual’s location, bearing, and range for easy retrieval. The smartAIS system displays this information in an easy-to-read format on any MFD or NMEA 2000 instruments; on PC or Mac over a USB connection; on a smartphone or tablet with the free Vesper Marine WatchMate app via WiFi; and now on Android Wear 2 smart watches via the award-winning deckWatch app.
The new Vesper Marine deckWatch app sends safety data and alerts to a smartwatch directly from Vesper Marine’s smartAIS transponders without the need of a phone or tablet to relay the information. This means you will have the information you need right on your wrist, even if you are in your bunk or on the bow. You know exactly what is happening without having to run back to the helm or nav station. In man overboard situations, those few seconds matter.
So, when you take your family out on the water this season, don’t forget to be prepared. Remember to wear your PFD and maybe invest in an AIS and a Man Overboard safety device. No matter what, stay safe and have a good time.
About Jordan Balbresky
A former public relations practitioner serving the high-tech and consumer electronics industries, Jordan Balbresky recently returned to the agency world following a decade of hands-on marine experience. Living in the Caribbean and working in all aspects of the marine industry — from boat building, restoration and maintenance, to charter captain and delivery crew of sailing and motor yachts — Balbresky has a first-hand understanding of the outdoor and maritime markets. Fully immersing himself in the industry, he is a licensed scuba instructor, as well as master mariner and has lived on-board a custom-built schooner while skippering charters on boats of all sizes in the US Virgin Islands.
tags: Electronics, safety, Software & Apps
