T
he U.S. Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning
“always ready.” It’s quite appropriate. Commercial
and recreational boaters rely on the Coast Guard (CG) to
respond quickly in any emergency. Whether boating on the
Intracoastal Waterway, Gulf of Mexico or Great Lakes, the
improved search and rescue system used by the CG, called
Rescue 21, identifies and locates a distress call.
Rescue 21’s system still recognizes emergency calls from
channels 16, 21, 22 and other working frequencies. With
Digital-Selective Calling (DSC) features on VHF-FM marine
radios, these channels are automatically called into the CG’s
receivers. Although it isn’t mandatory to have a marine radio
on paddleboats or recreational powerboats less than 65
feet, the ability for other boaters to hear a distress call and
possibly respond before the CG can increase survivability.
Attaching a MMSI (Marine Mobile Service Identity)
number to a GPS receiver provides additional
information about a disabled vessel. This nine-digit
number identifies the boat model, the hull identification
number and the owner of the boat. Furthermore, Rescue 21
tracks electronic devices like EPIRBs and satellite phones.
Unfortunately, the Coast Guard does not pick up cell
phone transmissions unless the caller dials the station directly.
When calling 9-1-1, the distress information is rerouted to
local authorities before going to the CG. Cell phone reliability
is only as good as its distance to a cell tower. Additionally,
short battery life and waterproofing on cell phones pose
additional problems that a marine radio may not.Capabilities
Enhancing reception and pinpointing the exact location
of a distressed caller comes from the additional functions
and advanced electronics in the Rescue 21 Communication
Center. Using multiple strategically placed radio towers, the
range increases to pick up the distress call and triangulate
it for an exact location. Poor signals are enhanced up to 20
nautical miles offshore, reducing the coverage gaps along
the coast and in navigable rivers and waterways. If the
communication system is down, due to emergencies like
natural disasters, portable towers are deployed.
The Rescue 21 system identifies the location of a caller who
does not know his or her location or cannot respond verbally.
Incoming radio transmission clarity is improved and made
into high quality audio recordings with playback features.
The system monitors and transmits information
simultaneously over multiple frequencies and creates
automated transmissions for urgent marine information.
Paperwork for every incident is tracked electronically and
used toward the historical record; it’s sometimes even usedfor prosecution. Rescue 21 is able to identify hoaxes or
accidental emergency transmissions, thereby reducing the
diversion of resources to non-emergency areas.Search and Rescue (SAR)
Rescue 21’s infrastructure better shares information
between agencies to conduct a rescue. SAR missions engage
boats of various sizes, lifeboats, self-righting and self-bailing
motorboats, cutters, as well as fixed winged aircraft and
helicopters. Joint task forces might form using military
branches, federal agencies, state and local governments,
law enforcement and the private sector.
However, if a vessel cannot be located, a rescue operation
cannot take place. It’s the survival time of the distressed
persons that takes the foremost consideration, like injuries,
medical conditions and man overboard. In 2007, the CG
boasted saving their one-millionth life.
Operations might take place in any type of water, for
missing or overdue aircraft, in remote land areas, caves and
mountains, collapsed structures, or in international areas as
appropriate. After a rescue, survivors are taken to shelters,
treated medically, given food if needed and family is notified.Call-in steps
Rescue 21 Communication Center’s “watchstanders” man the
radio 24/7. When a call comes in, it’s identified and recorded.
The sound is clarified, voices are amplified, background
noises are reduced, and then it’s reproduced for sound
quality. The watchstander returns the call asking for “the
big five” questions: What’s the vessel’s position; what’s the
nature of the emergency; what’s the vessel description; how
many people are on-board; and are life jackets being worn?
A visual display monitor identifies the towers picking up the
signal to notify the appropriate CG station with the information
to respond. Based on the type of emergency, a comprehensive
search plan develops. Homeland Security coordinates the rescue
using a variety of resources. For confirmed missing person
situations without actual location information, permission
may be granted to ping the person’s cell phone, or obtain bank
records to trace the last known locations.Operations
Rescue 21 is operational along the Great Lakes, Hawaii, the
Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts, and several U.S. territories.
A modified version for Alaska and the western rivers will be
in operation by the end of 2017. This state-of-the-art system
will increase the survivability times for distressed callers and
disabled vessels. Determining the location is the best probability
for rescue, and one life saved is worth the effort. ★ PHOTOS COURTESY OF USCGby Helen AitkenSAFETY FIRST
HELEN AITKEN is a boating
writer, photographer and
science educator from eastern
North Carolina. She loves
classic wooden boats, is a
U.S. Power Squadron member
and plays in the Intracoastal
Waterway. Visit her website at
HELENAITKEN.COM.30 JULY 2017 | LAKELANDBOATING.COMRescue 21
The Coast Guard’s 21st century search and rescue system.
Rescue 21’s system still recognizes emergency calls from
channels 16, 21, 22 and other working frequencies. With
Digital-Selective Calling (DSC) features on VHF-FM marine
radios, these channels are automatically called into the CG’s
receivers. Although it isn’t mandatory to have a marine radio
on paddleboats or recreational powerboats less than 65
feet, the ability for other boaters to hear a distress call and
possibly respond before the CG can increase survivability.number to a GPS receiver provides additional
information about a disabled vessel. This nine-digit
number identifies the boat model, the hull identification
number and the owner of the boat. Furthermore, Rescue 21Safety_JUL17.indd 30 5/25/17 10:02 AM