Ocean Signal announces USA certification approval for award winning rescueME MOB1
Ocean Signal’s new rescueME MOB1 is now fully certified for sale and use in the USA following the grant of FCC (Federal Communications Commission) approval.
Marine communication and safety specialist Ocean Signal has announced the receipt of the approvals for usage, which confirm all the relevant requirements have been satisfied for a life-saving product.
Developed as the world’s smallest combined AIS* and DSC** MOB (Man Overboard) device, the rescueME MOB1 has also been recognised in the 2015 SAIL Magazine Pittman Innovation Awards. The Ocean Signal product was named by the judges’ panel as a winner in the Safety Category and is included among 15 of the sailing industry’s most outstanding new products.
Ocean Signal’s Managing Director Alan Wrigley said: “The reaction to the rescueME MOB1 at US boat shows has already been extremely positive, so we are delighted to receive the certification approval.
“We are confident that the rescueME MOB1 will have a significant impact on safety at sea and that customers will appreciate the benefits of the compact size and other features.
“To receive recognition in the 2015 SAIL Magazine Pittman Innovation Awards is also very pleasing, as it is always gratifying to receive accolades from experts in the field.”
The Pittman Innovation Awards recognises innovative products from across the world, honouring the ‘best of the best’ new products in sailing gear following extensive research by an experienced team of experts.
The Safety Category judge Adam Cort, SAIL’s executive editor, particularly noted the small size of the rescueME MOB1 at 30 per cent smaller than similar products, as well as the “valuable DSC radio feature”.
He said: “Our judges were impressed both by the overall quality of the product and the way it combines multiple technologies to make it as easy as possible to quickly get to an MOB victim, no matter what the conditions.
“MOB beacons that transmit AIS signals so nearby vessels can track the person in trouble are already appreciated by many sailors – Ocean Signal’s rescueME MOB1 is the smallest yet.
“When activated, it [the rescueME MOB1] sends a distress message to your boat’s VHF, triggers an alarm and transmits the MOB’s position, which it then repeats every 5 minutes. Most AIS plotting devices will track AIS MOB signals these days, but only a few sound alarms. The rescueME MOB1 clips to most inflatable life vests and can be pre-armed so that it auto-activates when the vest does. It also has a strobe and a battery good for seven years.”
Also certified for use throughout Europe, the Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 with integrated DSC is a compact life-saving device which has been designed to attach easily to most life jackets, ready for automatic activation in the event of a man overboard situation.
The lightweight and easy-to-use rescueME MOB1 measures just 134mm (5.28inches) (height) by 38mm (1.5inches) (width) by 27mm (1.06inches) (depth) and weighs 90g (3.17ounces). It can be quickly and easily retro-fitted to the oral tube of inflatable life jackets and pre-armed so that it automatically activates when the lifejacket inflates. No intervention by the wearer is required.
The Pittman Innovation Awards are named after Freeman K Pittman, SAIL’s long-time technical editor who died of Lou Gehrig’s disease in 1996. The team of judges includes executive editor Adam Cort, cruising editor Charles J. Doane, veteran naval architect and SAIL’s long-time technical editor Jay Paris, plus SAIL’s electronics editor and owner of the marine electronics web site, www.panbo.com, Ben Ellison, and racing editor David Schmidt. An overall winner is selected, with other winners named in the categories of racing, electronics, cruising, systems and safety.
The Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 is available at an RRP of $339.
The rescueME MOB1 and the new rescueME EPIRB1 are among the Ocean Signal products on show at the Progressive Miami International Boat Show, from 12th – 16th February on Booth 3011.
Safety and communication products from Ocean Signal offer exceptional value, meeting or exceeding international technical and safety standards. Careful design and innovation provides commercial shipping, fishing and recreational users the confidence that their Ocean Signal equipment will work to, and beyond, their expectations when it is needed most.
For further information on Ocean Signal and the full range of products, please go to www.oceansignal.com.
* AIS is the Automatic Identification System
** DSC is Digital Selective Calling