Category: AIS

Kannad Marine’s SafeLink R10 SRS (for Survivor Rescue System) just received FCC approval, and it’s about time given that this personal AIS SART was introduced in Miami more than a year ago!  But let’s give Kannad a break as getting innovative safety hardware like this through the approval process is not trivial. Just looking through all the documents filed with the FCC was an eye opener, and the company had already spent many months (and dollars) getting EU approval.  Before discussing those details, though, let’s look at how easy-to-use yet powerful the finished product is. The collage above illustrates the activation process (click on it for a bigger image) and I personally love how a bit of cord is rigged both to keep the R10 attached to your life jacket or clothing and to pull off the orange Arming Tag and the red Activation Cap in one motion. It’s also key to the automatic activation possible when the four ounce R10 is “professionally fitted” to certain inflatable life jackets (as detailed on Kannad’s R10 web page…

Here’s some good news, even if I had to Google out a non-governmental Australian site to find out what the RTCM here in the States is up to. But I’ve admired the clearly written expertise at gmdss.com.au before, and I’m confidant that they have their facts right about the new standards for man overboard devices using AIS or DSC VHF (or both!). Besides, the details are pretty much what we expected, with a few interesting nuances…