Radio Survey

"History

The lucky yachtsman"

On 5 January 1997 the single-handed Tony Bullimore’s yacht participating in around-the-globe race capsized in freezing waters between Australia and Antarctica hit by a violent storm. The yachtsman managed to survive in the air pocket inside the hull. But what were the chances for the rescue 2600 kilometres away from land?

Luckily, experienced yachtsman was prepared for emergency. His boat Exide Challenger was equipped with Argos satellite beacons which transmitted the position of the craft to the French ground station and then to the race headquarters. In no time the position data was relayed to the Australian rescue authorities in Canberra which launched the rescue operation. Moreover, Bullimore managed to activate his 406 MHz EPIRB allowing Australian naval frigate Adelaide to home in on the signal. 

After five days of search the yachtsman was found when he managed to dive out of the upside down yacht and was taken on the Adelaide board . The leading part in the salvation of Tony Bullimore played the proper safety equipment of the yacht ensuring that he could be found and rescued.

The requirements of international and local regulations for smaller boats and yachts are much more lower than for big seagoing vessels. Below we have prepared for you the list of safety equipment recommended for yachts and other non-SOLAS vessels so you could get a fuller idea about it. 

Some essential equipment is required to be found on board in any case. Other pieces of equipment should be applied depending from the yacht size, sailing area, voyage distance offshore and its purpose. For example, fishing vessels might require specialized equipment and sonar.

Remote surveys are not a new form of service maintenance; they have been used for some years already. Lots of companies turn to digitalization of their work and widen the range of services they provide.

But today in maritime sphere the demand for this form of survey is bigger than ever due to coronavirus outbreak. The maritime registers faced the necessity to find solutions for the clients who need surveys and inspections right now.

What the ship owners can get now?

In light of such situation, some registers grant extension of the certificate validity. For example, Russian Maritime Register (RS) extends the validity of its certificates for 3 months extra.

Japanese Register Class NK allows to carry out the remote surveys or even to postpone them, if approved by the flag state authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard gives additional time to install the ballast water treatment systems (BWTS) for the vessels impacted by the pandemic. Thus, the vessels with BWTS compliance dates before April 1, 2021 will have an extra 12 months to comply.

This article gives instruction on installation, registration and use of the GMDSS Multi Software.

The software offers easy test results management for the users of GMDSS Testers made by Aeromarine SRT and Musson Marine.

The app can be easily downloaded and installed to any computer; Windows, MAC OS and Linux are compatible.

This modern, cutting-edge soft can be used with the range of the Testers:

•   GMDSS Multi Tester MRTS-7M
•   SART Tester STU-1
•   AIS Tester M1
•   BEACON Tester 406 02 

AIS and Beacon Testers manufactured many years ago are also compatible.

GMDSS batteries constitute an important tool which provides power supply for GMDSS equipment operation in case of emergency. 

Regulation 13, Chapter 4 of SOLAS sets the following requirements for GMDSS batteries:

- batteries must be recharged to the required minimum in less than 10 hours;

- the capacity of the batteries must be checked at less than 12 months;

 - the batteries should provide power to operate GMDSS for 1 hour if GMDSS is getting the power from emergency generators, and 

- for 6 hours if GMDSS is not getting the power from emergency generators. 

Surely, to be ready for emergency the batteries should be kept in a proper condition. For this, they should be periodically tested and checked. There are three types of tests:

1. Daily on load/off load test which ensures that all connections are intact and on loaded batteries do not drop voltage too quickly. 

2. Yearly capacity test which measures the capacity of the battery in Ampere hours. The battery should be replaced if capacity is less than 80% of the rated capacity. 

3. General maintenance  - measuring of the level of electrolyte and the specific gravity.

Let's see each one in details.

Now only EPIRBs with GNSS function are approved for sale.

Seafaring was always connected with certain dangers. Since the Titanic all possible measures were applied for preventing marine accidents. The number of casualties is constantly decreasing. Nevertheless, the statistics shows that on average two vessels are still sinking per day.

In case the accident couldn’t be avoided it is vital that the rescue come as soon as possible. One of the tools which helps search and rescue authorities to pinpoint the distress location and identify the vessel is an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or simply EPIRB.