Rescue 21 means faster response

By Roz Butziger
Posted 1/18/17

We all hope we never need a rescue, but if we are in trouble we hope help will arrive right away. The new Rescue 21 is helping achieve a faster response. Starting in the 70's, we relied on the National Distress and Response System (NDRS) and, in spite of

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Rescue 21 means faster response

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We all hope we never need a rescue, but if we are in trouble we hope help will arrive right away. The new Rescue 21 is helping achieve a faster response. Starting in the 70’s, we relied on the National Distress and Response System (NDRS) and, in spite of its role in many rescues, it had its limitations. There was no direction finding, and it had lots of gaps in communications coverage. NDRS was not well-coordinated with other agencies. To address these concerns, Rescue 21 was put into action and had its first rescue at the end of 2005. It was soon expanded to Virginia, New Jersey, Juneau Alaska, Florida, and Seattle. Within two years we had Rescue 21 in Long Island Sound, and by 2009 it was operating in Southern New England.

This system reduces search time, reaches out to 20 miles offshore, and will eventually cover 100,000 miles of coastline and rivers, including Hawaii, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Certain remote areas of Alaska will receive coverage this year. Over 75 percent of the largest US cities are close to the coast or rivers, and are therefore covered by this system.

This advanced computer digital communications system can locate boaters’ exact position so they can achieve a faster response. The expanded frequency capacity hooks up to fire, police, and other first responders in the area to get the victims the help they need and save lives.

Boaters with DSC enabled radios can simply push a red button in an emergency and transmit their precise location and vessel information, starting the rescue procedures. You need a Maritime Mobile Security Identity, and recreational boaters can get set up by contacting Boat US or Seatow MMSI programs, certified by the FCC and by the Coast Guard. If your boat is of the classification where you are required to carry a radio, you need to get your MMSI from the FCC.

The Coast Guard has been plagued by hoax calls that are costly and tie up resources that may be needed for legitimate distress calls. Rescue 21 can provide the exact location of the hoax call and facilitate the arrest and prosecution of the caller. Recently a call came in allegedly from a family sinking in a bad storm. Instantly the Coast Guard sent out a helicopter and several boats, risking their own lives in the storm. The call turned out to be a hoax. The hoax caller was arrested and is serving a two-year jail term, besides being required to pay the expenses of the search. Carnegie Mellon University has teamed with the Coast Guard for voice forensics, using their Language Technology Institute. They are able to get a unique voiceprint from each caller even if the person attempts to disguise or distort his voice.

Rescue 21 is ever expanding. They even have portable towers for widespread disasters, besides the ongoing equipment installation, support and maintenance. We are fortunate to be served by this new system, but let’s use good boating practices and brush up on our boating skills so we don’t need to call for a rescue.

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