Day to day service support

Challenge

In the realm of maritime safety, Man Overboard (MOB) incidents represent a significant daily challenge, requiring swift and effective response mechanisms to ensure the survival of individuals in distress. Time is critical in these situations, as a person can become unconscious in the water within minutes, highlighting the urgent need for systems that can immediately alert rescue crews and provide precise geolocation data, along with essential lifesaving equipment.

The duration of submersion is a decisive factor in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, with survival rates dropping rapidly after just a few minutes. Statistics indicate that those who survive intact or with minimal neurological damage typically have a submersion time of less than 5 minutes, while the average for non-survivors is around 16 minutes. However, the presence of a flotation device greatly increases the chances of survival, particularly within the critical window of 2-4 hours post-submersion, with an 80% higher survival rate for those equipped.

Given the inherent urgency of MOB incidents, rescue efforts must be swift and well-coordinated. With the average cruising speed of ships ranging from 18-20 knots (10 m/s), rescuers have less than a minute to locate and rescue a person overboard if the alert is raised immediately. Failing to do so can have severe consequences, as reflected by the high number of drowning fatalities reported annually.

The scale of SAR operations can be immense, involving significant resources, including personnel, aircraft, and vessels. A single search operation for a missing person might require multiple aircraft and dozens of vessels, with costs running into millions of euros per incident. These aggregated costs underscore the need for innovative solutions to enhance MOB detection and rescue capabilities and reduce the financial burden on the maritime industry.

Solution

Upteko's groundbreaking solution addresses these daily operational needs by leveraging advanced technology to determine the precise position of individuals who have fallen overboard. Integrated into our multipurpose drone system, this solution utilizes data from the ship's AIS signal, including speed, wind direction, underwater currents, and sailing path, to accurately calculate the direction and distance to the MOB. Our drone system can be swiftly deployed, equipped with RGB and thermal sensors, enabling the MOB to be quickly located with precise coordinates for an efficient rescue.

In Conclusion

This seamless integration of drone technology provides a significant advantage in MOB rescue operations, particularly under challenging conditions such as low visibility or nighttime when traditional methods are less effective. By enabling fast and targeted response actions, Upteko's solution improves the safety and efficiency of SAR operations, ultimately saving lives and reducing the economic impact of MOB incidents on the maritime industry.