DEVELOPMENT OF A DISTRESS ALERTING AND LOCATING SYSTEM (DALS)

An automated method of determining a distressed vessel's situation and position could be useful in the U. S. Coast Guard's search and rescue mission. Evaluation of commercially available retransmitting equipment, modified for use as a Distress Alerting and Locating System (DALS) was undertaken to determine its capabilities of automatically locating and identifying a vessel in distress, usefulness as a buoy position monitoring system, and usefulness as a vessel tracking system. The system employs a hand-held radio-navigational signal retransmitting device which, when energized by a recreational boater in time of distress, transmits a distress alerting and identifying signal along with local area navigational aid information to a DALS base station. Provision exists for extension of the operating range of the system through use of a telemetry equipment deployed in a vessel, aircraft or additional shore station. The system can use either Omega or LORAN-C navigational signals, or a combination of inputs from both navigational aids.

• Corporate Authors:

  United States Coast Guard

  Research and Development Center, 1082 Shennecossett Road
  Groton, CT  United States  06340-6096
• Authors:
  • DeGeorge, W A
  • Lindeblad, J R
• Publication Date: 1975-11

Media Info

• Pagination: 97 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Distress alerting systems; Loran; Position fixing; Search and rescue operations
• Old TRIS Terms: Loran navigation; Position finding
• Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00138545
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: USCG-D-186-75 Final Rpt.
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 4 1976 12:00AM