Search and rescue
Search and rescue: Aurora stranded off the shore of Daw Island. – Images supplied by ARC
Aground on Daw Island
Responding to distress beacon activation is complex, shaped by prevailing conditions, location and whether there are casualties. One thing that makes all the difference for rescuers, is whether your beacon is properly registered and GPS-equipped. By Daniel Redondo and Sarah Cameron
In the early hours of 12 May this year, AMSA coordinated the rescue of three cray fishers and their distress beacon played a key role. The three cray fishers had activated their distress beacon when their 18-metre vessel Aurora, had dragged its anchor all night and run aground on Daw Island, 110 nautical miles off Esperance, WA. When AMSA received notification of the distress alert at 1.25 am local time, we immediately identified that the beacon was registered and retrieved the information provided by the beacon owner. 23
Working Boats October 2019
The first thing our officers do is contact the beacon owner to verify the nature of the distress, but they were unsuccessful. Attempts to contact the other available emergency contacts were also fruitless. When this happens, we gather any information provided about the vessel linked to the beacon and ask local police if they are aware of the vessel being involved in any active incidents. On this occasion, local police did not have any active incidents involving the vessel—AMSA had been the first authority to be alerted to the incident. Luckily, the distress beacon on the Aurora provided a GPS-encoded
position—the most accurate positon information to within 120 metres. With no way of contacting the owner, the emergency contacts, or knowing anything about the scenario, the GPS position was invaluable. AMSA collaborated with local rescue authorities and civilian vessels to reach and communicate with the people in distress. AMSA officers immediately issued a broadcast to alert any other nearby vessels that the EPIRB on the vessel Aurora had been activated in the vicinity of Daw Island and may require assistance. Our radio room established contact
