The German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) has withSafeTrx has developed an app to make it easier to find water sports enthusiasts who have had accidents.
The application for smartphones is a tracker, which means that boaters allow the sea rescuers to evaluate the position data of their mobile phone in order to keep the search area as small as possible in an emergency.
Originally developed by the Irish coastguard, the app is now used by the rescue organisations of several European countries. The Dutch KNRM version, for example, has 25,000 users. It is intended to increase safety for owners of small boats without radio and AIS in particular. After 50 missions with the support of the app, it is considered a success in our neighbouring country.
After theDownload the user assigns aLogin name and a password. The application is then configured. This allows boat data including a picture of the boat and a Emergency contact be specified. This extends to the type of machine and the type and number of rescue equipment.
The user decides how detailed the information should be. This all happens before they go out on the water.
All you have to do is enter the route, the number of people on board and the estimated time of arrival and activate the tracking function.
The emergency contact is automatically activated via theStart of journey and theEstimated arrival informed by SMS.
SafeTrx then transmitsPosition data to the MRCC Bremen. Ten minutes before the predetermined arrival time, the app reminds the user; if there is a delay, for example due to bad weather, the time can be adjusted.
If the user does not respond by the specified arrival time at the latest, the emergency contact is notified again by text message. The emergency contact can now take action and perhaps make a call first - most likely the travellers are already eating and just haven't heard the mobile phone.
It is not automatically aSearch triggered. However, if an emergency situation is actually to blame for the delay, the emergency contact can notify the sea rescuers, who can then take a look at their system to see where the missing persons are or where contact was last made.
Because even if the network coverage on the German coast is very extensive, it is easily conceivable that the boat simply has no reception or the smartphone battery is flat.
However, an emergency call can also be made directly from the app.
SafeTrx also holds information on the Behaviour in emergency situations, technical information and diagrams on light guidance ready.
The app worked well in the test and is available free of charge for iPhones and Android devices. Further information also online.
