Can the MOB alert be communicated to rescue co-ordinators?
In a MOB situation, the best source of rescue is the vessel from which the casualty fell, which is what makes Deckband so effective. At present, rescue services do not advocate an automatic connection between MOB alert devices and distress signalling, because of the danger of false alarms. However, Deckband is configured to receive input from other devices in standard NMEA 0183 format on vessel position, and to output a message identifying a MOB incident in terms of time and place, which can then be incorporated in any future device for automatic relay of MOB information. We recommend SeaTrack plotting software for use with Deckband, since it offers a unique position prediction facility, calculating an updated predicted position for the casualty from live data on GPS and boat speed. The more powerful DeckMate headset will not necessarily generate a MOB alert if is not submerged and it remains within a short distance of the vessel. A conscious casualty may activate the alert instantly b
