McMurdo, part of the Orolia Group, was at this year’s Seawork Exhibition to introduce the latest edition to its product range, the new Personal Automatic Identification System (AIS) beacon, Smartfind S20, which generated interest from a wide range of markets.
The Smartfind S20, which is intended to be attached to a lifejacket, uses AIS SART technology to assist location and recovery in Man Over Board (MOB) situations.
David Duffin, sales manager, marine products, McMurdo, told World Fishing and Aquaculture the personal beacon was developed on the back of customer feedback and demand.
Mr Duffin said: “AIS receivers and transponders are mandated on SOLAS vessels and there is also a European wide fishing mandate for AIS Class A. McMurdo already had a SOLAS approved AIS liferaft SART and work was done to modify the technology to fit it into a lifejacket.”
He added: “Customers could see the value in personal locator beacons, such as the 406 MHz Fast Find 220 in situations where outside rescue assets were required. However, in most MOB situations clear communications and tracking between the casualty and the vessel are essential.”
Compatible with existing AIS enabled plotters and onboard navigation systems, the unit sends structured alert messages, GPS position and a special identity code directly to AIS receives within a four mile radius and updates every 60 seconds.
The S20 transmits continuously for up to 24 hours and has a seven year battery storage life.
McMurdo also recently launched a compact AIS Class A, the Smartfind M5, to meet this fishing mandate. The company says it is the only Class A unit that can programme a ‘buddy list’ of S20’s into the unit so they can be identified by name, which will improve co-ordination and MOB recovery even more.
