Australian Maritime Safety Authority selects GME PLBs

by Christina Stagg, GME on 17 Jan 2013 The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) recently took delivery of 400 GME MT410G Personal Locator Beacons for use within their world renowned search and rescue service. AMSA’s operational area spans the country and covers 52.8 million square kilometres of the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans.

GME is Australia’s preeminent and one of the world’s leading suppliers of emergency beacons. Totally designed and manufactured in Sydney, the GPS enhanced MT410G PLB will be fitted into the PFDs worn by AMSA’s SAR Air Observers and other rescue personnel.

Paul Maloy GME’s Managing Director said: 'Naturally we are delighted to have been awarded this contract by AMSA. We interpret this success as a further endorsement of Australia’s world class design and manufacturing capabilities. We are also particularly happy that the Australian built MT410G will now be carried as standard equipment by Australian Government SAR operatives and contractors.'

The GME MT410G is an inherently buoyant, 55 Channel GPS equipped PLB, the key attributes of GPS equipped PLBs being; rapid and accurate detection of an emergency signal virtually anywhere in the world and under any weather conditions. Typically the signal is received by the search and rescue coordinators within five minutes, with a position accuracy of less than 100 metres. This is in stark contrast to standard, non GPS 406MHz beacons where emergency signals can take over one hour to be detected and offer a position resolution of approximately five kilometres. In any emergency situation time is critical. GPS enabled emergency beacons significantly reduce delays and can make the difference between a prompt, successful rescue or a potential family tragedy.

For more details on the full GME range of emergency beacons, survival stories and company history please visit GME. For additional information on AMSA, its activities or beacon registration see AMSA.