Salcom looks to get rescue beacons into Europe

Christchurch rescue communication company Salcom is looking to break into the European market with its new generation marine rescue beacons.

Salcom is currently in the final stages of testing the new beacons and getting the necessary approvals to access markets in Britain and Europe.

The MRB406 beacon has been overhauled in line with new, standardised international rescue policies. The 406 MHz frequency has been exclusively set aside for distress calls, and the 121.5MHz satellite network on which rescue beacons currently operate will be scrapped in early 2009.

Salcom has been producing manufacturing Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) for nearly 30 years.

Director Colin McKenzie said the next generation of safety locators will have total global coverage, automatic activation capability, identification, and greater location accuracy in an emergency.

"In a mayday situation the position of a stricken vessel can be pinpointed to within 100m using the MRB406 GPS version," Mr McKenzie said.

Salcom exports over 80 per cent of the beacons it produces and is working with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) to make sure it will meet compliance standards for the European market.

NZTE and Salcom are also working together to find potential off-shore distributors for the company's fully immersible emergency radio, the Search and Rescue Communicator.

The device has been made compulsory equipment for all solo yachtsman in Around the World yacht races following its successful use in the rescue of the French sailor Terry Devoir in 1997.

- NZPA