Ocean Signal supports the RNLI in Boat Show giveaway

Two lucky winners left TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show better equipped to stay safe at sea with new Ocean Signal devices after success in the RNLI’s ‘Crack the Code Safe’ giveaway.

Communication and safety at sea specialist Ocean Signal supported the RNLI at this year’s show with the donation of two of its life-saving products – the rescueME MOB1 man overboard device and the rescueME EPIRB1 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

As the Official Charity Partner for the 50^th TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, the RNLI ran a range of events this year to highlight the work of its crew and raise awareness about how to stay safe at sea. A popular attraction on the large interactive stand was the Crack the Code safe feature, which gave visitors the chance to win top-tier lifesaving products every day.

James Bubb from Thatcham (above) won the award-winning MOB1, a personal AIS device that is easily integrated into lifejackets for automatic activation when the lifejacket is inflated, while another lucky stand visitor and his young granddaughter (below) walked away with the Ocean Signal EPIRB1, a compact 406 MHz beacon designed to provide the boat’s essential link to the emergency services.

James Hewitt, Sales and Marketing Director, Ocean Signal, says: “As safety at sea product manufacturers, we are hugely appreciative of all the work carried out by the brave men and women of the RNLI. Our main aim in developing our products is to ensure these devices can facilitate as many rescues as possible and help the crews to reach and find casualties quickly and safely. We are always very proud to support the RNLI and hope the TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show winners are reassured when carrying our devices.”

The Ocean Signal rescueME EPIRB1 features a huge 10-year battery life and is the most compact device on the market at just 7in x 3.5in. The Class 2 GPS EPIRB automatically activates once the unit has been immersed in water, communicating the location via the 406MHz Cospas-Sarsat satellite system with position provided by an integrated 66-channel GPS receiver and 121.5MHz homing beacon. Two high brightness strobes maximize visibility. A retractable antenna provides maximum protection and reduced outline for easy stowage within a grab bag, or the EPIRB can be mounted within its manual release bracket. The antenna is deployed with a gentle pull, using just one hand. A simple protective tab over the operating keys prevents inadvertent activation.

Selected for use by all the crews taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 edition and Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race, the award-winning Ocean Signal rescueME MOB1 is the smallest AIS man overboard device with integrated DSC. The device easily integrates into lifejackets and is automatically triggered the moment the lifejacket is inflated, sending the first alert within 15 seconds. Once activated, the MOB1transmits an alert to all AIS receivers and AIS-enabled plotters in the vicinity up to about five miles’ range, plus it will also activate the DSC alarm on the vessel’s VHF radio to alert crew. Its integrated 66-channel GPS provides accurate position data of a person in the water for at least 24 hours.

The RNLI has attended the TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show since it started in 1968, with events this year enabling visitors to meet the crew, discover various types of water safety products, try on lifejackets, sign up for free advice or sign up as an RNLI member.

For further information about Ocean Signal’s products, visit www.oceansignal.com