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THE 13TH COAST GUARD DISTRICT HAS IMPLEMENTED A NEW SYSTEM TO ASSIST MARINERS IN DISTRESS ON THE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST Across Washington and Oregon, mariners can provide vital location information to Coast Guard rescue crews from their smartphones without having to download an application. In addition to common life-saving devices known to mariners, such as Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB’s) and VHF radios, the Coast Guard now has the i911 application as an additional tool to provide lifesaving information from a mariner’s cell phone. The i911 system is a free service developed by Callyo Incorporated. It provides fast and accurate location data to the Coast Guard in a simple web-based interface. If a mariner has recently or is actively connected to a cell tower, the user’s smartphone could provide Global Positioning System information—potentially up to 20- nautical miles offshore. The Coast Guard has the ability to send a text message to the mariner’s cell phone requesting permission to access the GPS location information. All the mariner needs to do is enable location information in their smartphone settings and click the link provided in the text message. The Coast Guard can then utilize the provided positions to direct search assets to the mariner’s location. THE 13TH DISTRICT CONTINUES TO ADAPT WITH MODERN TIMES TO ASSIST MARINERS IN DISTRESS In an age where smartphones are an essential part of everyday life, the i911 system is another tool that can be used by Coast Guard search and rescue teams to provide rapid assistance in the maritime domain. While this new technology is highly effective, mariners are advised that i911 should not replace standard VHF radios. VHF channel-16 remains the most reliable means of communication for mariners in distress. Advertisement “While VHF radio remains the most reliable form of distress communication, this tool gives the Coast Guard another avenue to rapidly locate mariners in distress utilizing smart phone technology,” said Lt. Cmdr. Colin Boyle, the 13th District’s command center chief. “In addition, the location sharing feature is only utilized during an active search and rescue case and can be turned off by the mariner at any time.” This tool is readily available to first responder agencies across the country, including the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard ran a pilot program from May – November 2019, in which the new application was instrumental to resolving several search and rescue cases in the New England region. It has been authorized for Coast Guard command centers across the entire country as of March 20, 2020. i911 pairs newly available consumer smartphone technology with a simple web-based interface for dispatchers to locate emergency callers, without requiring the download of a mobile app. The process begins with a verified first responder creating a free account at i911.com, then entering the mobile number of the emergency caller. If the caller is actively connected with or has recently contacted 911, precise automatic device location may be immediately available without any further action. The caller’s location information displays as a map marker on the dispatcher’s screen. If automatic location is not available, the first responder is presented with the option to send an SMS (text message) to the caller, which when opened, asks the user for consent to share their exact whereabouts with emergency services. Navigate to i911.com and enter the following information: First Name Last Name Email address Password (8 characters or more) Review and agree to the i911 terms Check the box to prove that you're not a robot Next, you'll need to provider your mobile phone number capable of receiving SMS Enter your Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) or Agency’s Name The i911 will provide a dropdown giving you a list of agency names, select the matching name. If your agency is not listed, select "My agency isn't listed" and enter the name manually Select START LOCATING! You'll receive a confirmation email, use the confirmation link to complete your registration At first, you'll only be able to locate your own number provided in the registration. Once your registration is reviewed and verified as a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or as a first responder, you can begin locating emergency callers. We'll notify you once your registration has been reviewed and accepted. For any questions regarding i911 please visit their website at http://i911.zendesk.com/ This story was provided courtesy of the USCG 13th District Pacific Northwest download PDF of this article

Courses we offer depending on requests and there is enough interest to fill a class:
Navigation, Inland and Coastal, Offshore, Boat Handling, Marine Equipment, Weather, Sail, Cruise Planning
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