Category Archives: SAR

Coast Guard Outlook 2015-2016

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http://issuu.com/faircountmedia/docs/uscg15#embed

DefenseMediaNetwork has published an online version of the new “Coast Guard Outlook.” I have not read it all, there is a lot there, 164 pages. Fortunately, it allowed me to embed it above.

It includes an interview with the Commandant, a story about the 100 year history of Coast Guard Aviation, one about the Coast Guard in Vietnam, and another about the Offshore Patrol Cutter, along with several others.

When I first brought it up, the print was too small to read comfortably on my laptop, but you have two ways to get a larger view. Clicking on the page twice enlarges it (maybe too large). There is also a slider at the lower left that changes the size of the page you are viewing. Unfortunately neither adjustment is carried over when you go to the next page.

Thanks to Lee for bringing this to my attention.

 

Another Competitor for Canada’s Fixed Wing SAR Aircraft

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635853520416533029-DFN-Canada-Embraer.jpg

Photo: Embraer KC-390, company photo

DefenseNews is reporting another competitor is set to enter the competition to replace Canada’s aging fixed wing SAR aircraft fleet, the Embraer KC-390.

In the photo, this aircraft looks small, but it actually has a greater max gross weight and cargo capacity than a C-130J. It has better than 90% of the J model’s range and is faster.

They claim, it was intended as a SAR aircraft from it inception.

“Geraldo Gomes, vice president of business development for Embraer Defense and Security, said … the KC-390 was designed to be a search-and-rescue aircraft and that one of its strong selling points is its low life-cycle costs.”

Unmanned Search and Rescue?

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Looks like sooner or later we are going to see unmanned surface vessels transiting the oceans. Both MarineLog and MarineLink report on a Chinese Study. The odd thing about these reports is that apparently, among other things, they were applying this technology to SAR. This from MarineLog:

The Unmanned Multifunctional Maritime Ships Research and Development Project, says MSA, realizes all-day networked sea supervision, intelligent search and rescue, motorized multipoint coverage by shore-vessel based detection and control platform managing unmanned search and rescue vessels on a low-cost basis, which effectively improved the ability and efficiency in maritime search and rescue.

(MarineLink apparently working from the same press release consistently substitutes the phrase “maritime cruise and rescue.”)

Frankly I have a hard time visualizing what unmanned surface vessels could do for search and rescue.

CG 36500, Bernie Webber’s Boat, Lives On

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The Finest Hours

The Boston Globe has a nice post about the now 69 year old, 36 foot, wooden hull, motor surfboat Bernie Webber and his pick-up crew used to rescue 32 crew members trapped on the stern of an oil tanker, SS Pendleton, that had broken in half in a storm, and the people who restored and care for it.

The story of this rescue was told in a book and is being made into a movie.

I have it on good authority that the organization that maintains the boat could use some support.

Unmanned SAR Assets

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sUAS

MarineLink has a short post about a European effort to use networked Unmanned Air and Surface Vehicles (UAVs and USVs) to do SAR. I don’t find their particular scenario persuasive, but there probably are roles for these systems.

Unmanned systems have some potential advantages over Manned assets although they are unlikely to ever replace them.

  1. It may be possible to have UAVs more widely distributed than manned CG Air assets.
  2. UAVs operating from SAR stations might also be able to get into the air more quickly  than manned aircraft because they do not have to contend with other air traffic that may be operating on the field.
  3. At least for some applications they may be cheaper to operate.

Frankly, I had thought of unmanned systems as primarily Law Enforcement assets, but the Coast Guard is looking as the possibility of locating personnel in the water using small UAVs.

USVs:

I have a hard time visualizing a use for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV), but perhaps there might be a benefit in dropping a USV to a distressed vessel or person(s)  in the water either from a fixed wing or a UAV.

UAVs might be used:

  1. For communications relay.
  2. To deliver medication or medical equipment.
  3. Small UAVs might be used to confirm the location of vessels in distress before other units arrive.
  4. To deliver pumps, communications equipment, or other even inflatable liferafts.

Any Other Ideas?

Any other potential uses?

Motor Surf Boats

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gCaptain is featuring some photos of a 48 foot pilot and SAR boat, designed and built by Safehaven Marine of Cork, Irish Republic, in many ways similar to the Coast Guard’s own 47 foot motor lifeboat. A notable difference is that this vessel appears to have a rescue platform on the stern rather than the stepdowns built into the sides of the 47 footers.

The manufacture of the boat has some great photos of this and other boats they make in some very impressive severe weather conditions, along with links to video.

Looks like Cork is Europe’s version of Cape Disappointment.

Interestingly they also make a larger 55/56 foot boat like the one in the video above as well.