uscg/noaa sarsat conference 2010 false alerts

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010

False Alerts

What did you enter in IHDB?

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

Why do we care aboutEPIRB False Alerts?

• 96% EPIRB Alerts are false.

• 85% Resolved by CC with registration and good detective work.

• ~$4 million in A/C time and fuel on EPIRB false alerts (2009).

• Projected increase in EPIRB population will bring increase in number of false alerts.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

EPIRB OperationalRequirements

• Positive visual and/or audible indication that EPIRB is activated (strobe light flashing).

• Easily manually deployed, activate, and deactivated, and transferred to survival craft.

• Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

Prevention of Inadvertent Activation

• Must be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent activation and deactivation.

• Not automatically activate when water washes over while in bracket.

• Most EPIRBs use bracket with magnet to disable activation circuit.

• EPIRB held securely in bracket when bumped or vibrated.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

EPIRB Operational Requirements

Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment.

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

SAR False Alert Rate

Beacon Type 406 MHz EPIRBs

All 406 MHz Beacons

2004 94.9% 95.8%

2005 - 96.0%

2006 - 97.1%

2007 94.3% 95.0%

2008 93.9% 96.0%

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

406 MHz Beacon False Alert Rate

Beacon Types

EPIRBs ELTs PLBs All Types

2004 2.2%(1) 9.2%(1) 2.1%(1) 2.1%(2)

2005 1.8%* 6.6% 0.5%* 1.6%

2006 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%

2007 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%

2008 1.2% 8.0% 0.9% 2.0%

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

Classification of COSPAS-SARSAT Alerts

Alerts Received By SAR Authorities

False Alerts

Distress Alerts

Undetermined

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling

• Beacon Malfunction

• Mounting Failure

• Environmental Conditions

• Unknown

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling– Installation procedures / location

• Exposed to sea action or ship’s work, equipment struck beacon, improperly placing beacon in bracket.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

EPIRB Mounted Backward

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling– Installation– Testing and maintenance

• Failure to follow proper testing procedures• Repair by owner or service center causing

activation.• Improper removal from bracket while testing, or

cleaning.• Beacon shipped while armed and activated.• Beacon stored improperly

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

EPIRB Assembled Backward

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling– Mishandling – Installation procedures /

location– Mishandling – Testing and maintenance– Improper use

• Illegal activation: hoax, vandalism, theft• Accidental activation: reported, NFI• Demonstrated / test not co-ordinated.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling– Mishandling – Installation procedures /

location– Mishandling – Testing and maintenance– Improper use– Improper disposal of beacon

• Beacon discarded as trash, abandoned.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Malfunction– Switch

• Switch broken

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress

• Water leakage due to manufacturing defect, cracked casing, faulty seal.

• Not exterior of beacon getting wet.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test

position.• Transmitted non-inverted frame

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test

position.– Electronics malfunction

• Non-GPS electronics malfunction

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Mounting Failure

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Mounting Failure– Bracket

• Strap or bracket failure• Beacon fell out of bracket• Failure of bracket to control the water activation

function (magnet missing, or beacon loose)

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

Not Just a US Problem!!

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release

• Premature release of hydrostatic realease.

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release– Magnet

• Switch magnet not effective or missing.

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Environment Conditions– Extreme Weather conditions

• Hurricane / cyclone conditions, vsl knocked down, heavy seas, ice build-up.

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

False Alert ELT Environmental Conditions?

YES

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

False Alert EPIRB Environmental Conditions?

NO

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

IHDB False Alert Reason

• Unknown– Reason Unknown (Confirmed Beacon False

Alert)• No feedback on why activated• Investigation in to beacon activation cause was

inconclusive.