USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010 False Alerts

Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010

False Alerts

What did you enter in IHDB?


Why do we care aboutEPIRB False Alerts?

• 96% EPIRB Alerts are false.

• 85% Resolved by CC with registration and good detective work.

• ~$4 million in A/C time and fuel on EPIRB false alerts (2009).

• Projected increase in EPIRB population will bring increase in number of false alerts.


EPIRB OperationalRequirements

• Positive visual and/or audible indication that EPIRB is activated (strobe light flashing).

• Easily manually deployed, activate, and deactivated, and transferred to survival craft.

• Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment.


Prevention of Inadvertent Activation

• Must be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent activation and deactivation.

• Not automatically activate when water washes over while in bracket.

• Most EPIRBs use bracket with magnet to disable activation circuit.

• EPIRB held securely in bracket when bumped or vibrated.


EPIRB Operational Requirements

Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment.

69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.

SAR False Alert Rate

Beacon Type 406 MHz EPIRBs

All 406 MHz Beacons

2004 94.9% 95.8%

2005 - 96.0%

2006 - 97.1%

2007 94.3% 95.0%

2008 93.9% 96.0%


406 MHz Beacon False Alert Rate

Beacon Types

EPIRBs ELTs PLBs All Types

2004 2.2%(1) 9.2%(1) 2.1%(1) 2.1%(2)

2005 1.8%* 6.6% 0.5%* 1.6%

2006 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%

2007 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%

2008 1.2% 8.0% 0.9% 2.0%


Classification of COSPAS-SARSAT Alerts

Alerts Received By SAR Authorities

False Alerts

Distress Alerts

Undetermined



IHDB False Alert Reason

• Beacon Mishandling

• Beacon Malfunction

• Mounting Failure

• Environmental Conditions

• Unknown



• Beacon Mishandling– Installation procedures / location

• Exposed to sea action or ship’s work, equipment struck beacon, improperly placing beacon in bracket.


EPIRB Mounted Backward



• Beacon Mishandling– Installation– Testing and maintenance

• Failure to follow proper testing procedures• Repair by owner or service center causing

activation.• Improper removal from bracket while testing, or

cleaning.• Beacon shipped while armed and activated.• Beacon stored improperly


EPIRB Assembled Backward



• Beacon Mishandling– Mishandling – Installation procedures /

location– Mishandling – Testing and maintenance– Improper use

• Illegal activation: hoax, vandalism, theft• Accidental activation: reported, NFI• Demonstrated / test not co-ordinated.



• Beacon Mishandling– Mishandling – Installation procedures /

location– Mishandling – Testing and maintenance– Improper use– Improper disposal of beacon

• Beacon discarded as trash, abandoned.



• Beacon Malfunction– Switch

• Switch broken



• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress

• Water leakage due to manufacturing defect, cracked casing, faulty seal.

• Not exterior of beacon getting wet.



• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test

position.• Transmitted non-inverted frame



• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test

position.– Electronics malfunction

• Non-GPS electronics malfunction



• Mounting Failure




• Mounting Failure– Bracket

• Strap or bracket failure• Beacon fell out of bracket• Failure of bracket to control the water activation

function (magnet missing, or beacon loose)



Not Just a US Problem!!



• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release

• Premature release of hydrostatic realease.




• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release– Magnet

• Switch magnet not effective or missing.




• Environment Conditions– Extreme Weather conditions

• Hurricane / cyclone conditions, vsl knocked down, heavy seas, ice build-up.


False Alert ELT Environmental Conditions?

YES


False Alert EPIRB Environmental Conditions?

NO



• Unknown– Reason Unknown (Confirmed Beacon False

Alert)• No feedback on why activated• Investigation in to beacon activation cause was

inconclusive.

Documents

USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010 False Alerts