Technology for S.O.S.

1995/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Komunikazioak

By 1999 US vessels will be able to use a new relief system on ships. This is a first step in the integration and improvement of the operation of relief mechanisms, as the Maritime Safety Committee has announced that it is a change in user habits.

Currently, the Commission's report considers that 90% of emergency calls received in relief areas are due to system failures. This suggests that relief systems will not be efficient enough when a real emergency occurs and, in practice, this happens in many cases.

To prevent this error from happening again, they have designed a new relief system that is expected to be useful for next year. The most important contribution of the new system is the comprehensive use of telecommunications mechanisms. If a ship is to send an emergency message, it will be able to use three different systems: the first signal will be broadcast by radio, the second via satellite and the third will be a beacon that will activate its box with water pressure. In addition, the mechanism that integrates the three systems will be fully automated.