CDR Erin MacDonaldCDR Erin MacDonaldU.S. Coast Guard HeadquartersU.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)22 Feb 200822 Feb 2008

EPIRB & PLB Alert IssuesEPIRB & PLB Alert Issues

04/21/23 10:09 2

Rescue 21 Fielded Capability – to date

04/21/23 10:09 3

Mid-AtlanticMid-AtlanticAtlantic City, NJ………….2005Eastern Shore, VA……….2005Delaware Bay................... Sep’07Baltimore, MD.................. May’08*Hampton Roads, VA...... Feb’08

OCONUS IslandsOCONUS IslandsHonolulu, HI………2008-11Guam……………...2008-11San Juan, PR….…2009-11

Great LakesGreat Lakes Buffalo, NY……………2008-11Detroit, MI……………..2008-11Lake Michigan………...2008-11Sault Ste. Marie, MI…..2008-11

Western RiversWestern Rivers(Recapitalize current coverage/capability)(Recapitalize current coverage/capability)

Ohio River Valley………TBD Upper Mississippi……..TBDLower Mississippi………TBD

AlaskaAlaskaJuneau, AK………TBDAnchorage, AK…..TBD

NortheastNortheastNorthern New England…..2007-10 Boston, MA………………..2007-09 SE New England…………2007-10

New York, NY…………….Nov’07Long Is Sound, NY/CT….Oct’07

SoutheastSoutheastNorth Carolina………...2007-09Charleston, SC………..2007-09

Jacksonville, FL……...Jan’08Miami, FL………………Mar’08 *Key West, FL…...……..Sep’08

West CoastWest CoastSeattle, WA…………..2006Port Angeles, WA…...2006Astoria, OR…………..Apr’08North Bend, OR……..Jun’08*Portland, OR…………Jul’08

Humboldt Bay, CA……2008-10San Francisco, CA……2008-10 LA/Long Beach, CA…..2008-10 San Diego, CA………..2007-10

Gulf CoastGulf CoastMobile, AL………………………2006St Petersburg, FL……………...2006New Orleans, LA (Coastal)… .Feb’07 New Orleans, LA………………Nov’08Houston/Galveston, TX………Oct’08Corpus Christi, TX…………….Aug’08*

Sector accepted by USCG Scheduled for acceptance through 2008 * Tower coverage issues outstanding; acceptance date subject to change

USCG Rescue 21 Acceptance Schedule

CDR Erin MacDonaldCDR Erin MacDonaldU.S. Coast Guard HeadquartersU.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)22 Feb 200822 Feb 2008

EPIRB & PLB Alert IssuesEPIRB & PLB Alert Issues

EPIRB & PLB Alert IssuesEPIRB & PLB Alert Issues

The SARSAT System

Termination of 121.5 MHz beacon alerts

EPIRB False Alert Study

New Direction Finding Capability

Outreach and Education Efforts

Cospas-Sarsat System Overview

These dots represent 6965 SARSAT alerts between 2001-2006 for distress, non-distress, undetermined, ceased/ undetermined.

90% of EPIRB SAR Cases are within 20 NMof shoreline.

SARSAT Alerts in the US SAR RegionSARSAT Alerts in the US SAR Region

SAR Satellite-aided Tracking (SARSAT) contributes to saving an average of 300 persons in the US and 1,300 persons around the world every year

In 2007, SARSAT helped save 353 lives in the U.S.Over 22,000 lives have been saved worldwide since 1982

Need for Satellite-Aided SARNeed for Satellite-Aided SAR

121.5 MHz Phase-Out121.5 MHz Phase-Out

International Termination of 121.5/243 MHz Satellite Alerting Occurs On:

February 1, 2009! U.S. Termination of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs = 3 Phases

Certification of new 121.5 EPIRBs ceased Sales and manufacture ceased in 2003 Operation/Use of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs became prohibited on Jan 1, 2007

406 MHz Beacons406 MHz Beacons

At the end of 2007, there were approx 191,000 registered 406 MHz beacons in the U.S.:

143,000 EPIRBs carried on comm & rec vsls; 18,000 Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) carried on aircraft; 30,000 Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) carried by individuals in harsh environments;175 Ship Security Alert System beacons.

EPIRBPLB

ELT

SSAS

EPIRB False Alert Abatement ProjectEPIRB False Alert Abatement Project

Approx 92% of alerts rcvd fm 406 MHz beacons are false 17:1 false to real distress CG spent ~$3.6M on non-distress alerts in FY2007 (that we know

of) Intangible costs

Risk to the lives of SAR crews SAR resources not available when needed

Approx 82% of EPIRBs are registered. Valuable time is lost on detective work when an unregistered beacon is activated

Funds Spent on EPIRB False AlertsFunds Spent on EPIRB False Alerts

Reasons For False AlertsReasons For False Alerts

User ErrorTesting InstallationImproper disposal

Manufacturing/DesignCompromised magnetic reed switchWeathering/corrosionBracket failureElectronic malfunctions

EPIRB placed backwards in housing

Broken antenna

ELTs in recycling bin

Broken tab on activation button

EPIRB False Alert Abatement ProjectEPIRB False Alert Abatement Project

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?

1. Improve detection capabilities

2. Identify faulty EPIRBs

3. Educate mariners

4. Additional standards for designing EPIRBs and their brackets by RTCM

USCG 406 MHz DF CapabilitiesUSCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities

The Problem Legacy CG aircraft homing equipment could not DF on the 406 MHz signal and

would typically lock on to the 121.5 MHz signal only in close proximity (less than 5 NM).

The Solution The CG is in the process of equipping aircraft with 406 MHz DFs.

This is a huge advantage since a beacon’s 121.5MHz signal is only 25 milliwatts,

but a 406MHz data burst is transmitted at 5 watts every 52 seconds! Also, the 406MHz burst is not easily degraded by environmental obstacles like the weaker 121.5 signal.

USCG 406 MHz DF CapabilitiesUSCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities

S/V ParadoxS/V ParadoxVoyage from Honduras to FloridaVoyage from Honduras to FloridaHU-25 unable to locateHU-25 unable to locateC-130 w/ new 406 DF located C-130 w/ new 406 DF located 220nm SW of Tampa, FL 220nm SW of Tampa, FL

USCG 406 MHz DF CapabilitiesUSCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities

Shore-Side Direction Finding--Rescue 21

On 18 Dec 2007, approval was given to add 406MHz detection & homing capability to all coastal VHF comms towers (the Rescue 21 system).

This capability is essential since the majority of maritime SAR cases occur within 20 NM of the shore

406MHz DF on Cutters and Boats

The USCG is currently considering adding 406 MHz DF capability to small boats and cutters due to the proven superiority of this direction finding technology.

This upgrade will directly contribute to the saving of lives as well as significant search / cost savings when the CG can quickly isolate activated beacons in harbors and marinas.

The Way AheadThe Way Ahead

Education and Outreach on Beacon IssuesCG Boarding Officers, Inspectors, ExaminersBoating organizationsMaritime Community

Beacon RegistrationWork w/ NOAA to monitor registration ratesPublic education on importance of beacon registration

Improvements to Beacon StandardsWork w/ RTCM (manufacturers and govt agencies) to improve beacon and bracket standards

How the US Power Squadron Can HelpHow the US Power Squadron Can Helpthe CG SAR Programthe CG SAR Program

EDUCATION and OBSERVATION:Does boat owner/operator have a 406MHz EPIRB or PLB?If a 121.5MHz EPIRB is found, educate on reasons to replace (signal from 121.5 will not alert rescue personnel after 1Feb09 and 121.5 EPIRBs are prohibited by U.S. law).

Does the EPIRB or PLB have a current registration?Assist owner with beacon registration by providing registration form or website address. www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov

Is EPIRB properly mounted and in good condition?Ensure bracket will prevent false activation

Report any significant beacon issues to CG Office of SAR.

It’sIt’s Not Just About Boaters! Not Just About Boaters!

16 FEB 200816 FEB 2008PLB RescuePLB RescueBritish NationalBritish National75 mi NW of 75 mi NW of Puerto Plata, DRPuerto Plata, DRHH-60 RecoveryHH-60 RecoveryPLB Registered in PLB Registered in New Zealand New Zealand

Visit Our Website! Visit Our Website! http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/g-http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opr/g-opr.htmopr.htm

Any Questions???Any Questions???

EPIRB & PLB Alert IssuesEPIRB & PLB Alert Issues

U.S. Coast Guard HeadquartersU.S. Coast Guard HeadquartersOffice of Search and Rescue (CG-534)Office of Search and Rescue (CG-534)

CDR Erin MacDonald LCDR Kathy Niles CDR Erin MacDonald LCDR Kathy Niles erin.d.macdonald@uscg.mil or or katherine.m.niles@uscg.mil

(202) 372-2080 (202) 372-2089(202) 372-2080 (202) 372-2089