Man Overboard Alarm Has Potential to Save Lives
The 'world's first dedicated AIS man overboard alarm system' will be available at the Miami Boat Show

Posted Tuesday, February 14, 2012

 


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Sailing is generally a fun past time, but a man over board situation is one that every captain fears. Digital Yacht has launched a potentially life-saving product called AIS Life Guard. Each crew member needs to be carrying a personal AIS device - like the ones made by companies such as Easy, Kannad and McMurdo. Just connect the AIS Life Guard to an on board AIS transponder or AIS receiver and you have a fully operational AIS SART man overboard system. The AIS Life Guard detects both message 1 and message 14 (these are reserved for AIS SART messaging). As soon as an AIS SART transmission is detected the AIS Life Guard will sound an internal 95db alarm and also display a red warning light. So within seconds the helmsman will be aware if a member of the crew or passenger has fallen overboard.

Digital Yacht America, will show the world’s first dedicated AIS man overboard alarm system at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show (Stand C95).

The AIS Life Guard is compatible with all Digital Yacht receivers and transponders and the new generation of AIS SARTS that have recently been approved for global use by the IMO. It is priced at $299.95. For further information visit www.digitalyachtamerica.com, send an email to sales@digitalyachtamerica.com or telephone 978 277 1234.

About the system

AIS is a system used for vessel tracking, identity and anti-collision purposes. It is a mandatory requirement for all vessels over 300 tonnes to carry an AIS class A transponder. This device sends the vessel's position, course, speed and identity over VHF frequencies to other vessels equipped with either an AIS transponder or receiver. The data can then be displayed graphically on either a dedicated device or on to a chart plotter and alarms can be activated to warn of any potential collision danger. Smaller commercial vessels and leisure users can take advantage of the benefits of AIS by installing a lower cost class B transponder, or even just a receiver to pick up the AIS transmissions. There is also an increasing use of AIS on static navigation structures such as buoys and lighthouses (ATONS - aids to navigation) which allow navigators to positively identify a target. One of the benefits of AIS technology is that the target is positively identified with its position, name, call sign, MMSI number, course and speed. Chart plotters can instantly calculate closest point of approach and time to closest point of approach and activate an alarm where necessary. Digital Yacht has published a range of White Papers on the AIS system which is available free-of-charge on its website.

About Digital Yacht
Established in 2006, Digital Yacht is a specialist manufacturer of marine navigation and communication equipment. In October 2011 our revolutionary BOATraNET scooped the prestigious NMEA Technology Award and the month after our iAIS won the highly regarded DAME Award (marine electronics category) at METS. We are experts at making existing systems better and adding functionality to our legacy products. Our areas of core expertise are centred on AIS technology, marine pcs, navigation software, high power WiFi antennas and chart plotters. Digital Yacht is a buoyant and forward thinking company in touch with modern boating trends as well as the latest technology and how this will impact and shape the future of both the leisure and commercial side of the industry. Many of our new products are Apple and Smartphone friendly and we have already developed a few of our own Apps too. In the spring of 2010 Digital Yacht America opened its doors and all of our products are available across America and Canada. Our American sales office can be reached on 978 277 1234.