GB2451063A

GB2451063A - Automatic marine distress transmitter

Info

Publication number: GB2451063A
Application number: GB0713688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Watt Marine Ltd; Michael S Turner; Struan W Eaglesham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-13
Filing date: 2007-07-13
Publication date: 2009-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2027-07-13
Also published as: GB0713688D0; GB2451063B

Abstract

A method of automatically communicating an warning signal from a sea vessel to neighbouring vessels or the shore, comprises transmitting a first signal to remote DSC VHF units, then sending a first warning signal, after a pause automatically transmitting a second signal to DSC VHF units and then a second warning signal. The multiple signals transmitted convey changes in location of the sea vessel. Preferably the automatic communications are triggered by a timer alarm for the vessel's autopilot elapsing without a crewmember resetting the timer. Thus neighbouring vessels can be warned of a vessel using an autopilot that does not have crew on watch duty. The figure (4) shows steps for transmitting a DSC signal and a warning signal which may comprise a spoken voice-synthesised message.

Description

VESSEL PROTECTION SYSTEM

FIELD OF' THE INVENTION

The present invention is concerned with the safety of shipping vessels and particularly but not exclusively those shipping vessels that employ an autonomous means of guidance.

It is common for vessels to be operating in autopilot mode wherein they are directod on a preset course using a heading sensor input to judge the direction in which they are traveling. When employing such a system a watch must be kept by a crewmember in order to provide a warning or to take preventative measures in the event of an imminent collision or grounding. Unfortunately, instances exist where the crewmernber fails to keep sufficient watch to prevent a collision or grounding. These failures can be for reason of fatigue or incapacitation by illness or accident (falling, etc). In the event of such a collision or grounding it is possible and indeed likely that damage to the vessel and environment result and in some cases loss of life of a number of the crew.

In an attempt to avoid situations where the crewmember fails to keep sufficient watch, a number of vessels are fitted with an alarm, which consists of a timing device that emits a low level sound after a predetermined period of time has elapsed (typically 4 minutes). The crewmember on watch duty must then reset the timing device to silence the alarm however, if the timing device is not reset then after a further predetermined period of time has elapsed a loud alarm emits a sound (typically 110db). The purpose of the loud alarm is to alert the crewmember on watch and/or to alert other crewmembers that the crewmember on watch is not attending to the low level sound of the first alarm.

Instances have been known to occur in which the above mentioned alarms have not been attended to with the result that the vessel is put in danger of colliding with other vessels or grounding, indeed it is known that serious environmental damage and loss of life has occurred as a result of such failures.

It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the aforementioned problems.

SITh*RY OF THE INVENTION According to an aspect the present invention there is provided a method of automatically communicating an warning signal to neighbouring vessels, the method comprising: Automatically transmitting a first signal from a vessel after a predetermined alarm time period has elapsed to a plurality of remote DSC VHF units, the remote DSC VHF units being altered by the first signal to receive a first warning signal, automatically transmitting a second signal after a predetermined time period has elapsed to said plurality of remote DSC VHF units, the remote DSC VHF units being altered by the second signal to receive a second warning signal whereby the warning signals received convey changes in location of said vessel to crewmernbers of neighbouring vessels.

Preferably, predetermined alarm time period is 5 minutes.

More preferably, the plurality of remote DSC VHF units are located on neighbouring vessels or a shore station.

Preferably, predetermined time period is 3.5 to 4 minutes.

Suitably, the first and second warning signals contain information such as "vessel under way, but not under command".

BRIEE' DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a DSC VHF unit; Figure 3 shows a decision tree of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a decision tree of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the figures, there is shown a schematic view of a vessel under way but not under command, generally designated 100.

As can be seen there are a number of neighbouring vessels 101 in VHF radio range of vessel 100 as well as a shore station 102 which is also in VHF radio range of vessel 100. On board each of the neighbouring vessels 101, the shore station 102 and the vessel 100 are communication devices 103 hereinafter known as DSC VHF units 104 (as can be seen in figure 2) incorporating a DSC (digital selective calling) Module 105, an RF (radio frequency) Module 106, a Timer Module 107 and a Speech Synthesis Module 108. In addition to the DSC VHF units 104, each of the neighbouring vessels 101 and the vessel 100 are equipped with a marine-band antenna 109. The shore station 102 is also equipped with a marine-band antenna 109.

The Timer Module 107 sounds a low level alarm every 4 minutes. If the crewmernber tasked with keeping watch does not reset the Timer Module 107 within 1 minute of the low level alarm sounding then a loud klaxon alarm of 110db sounds. This loud klaxon alarm is to alert the remaining crewmembers to the fact that the crewmember tasked with keeping watch has not reset the Timer Module 107, which suggests that he is asleep/unwell or has some problem to contend with which may require further help.

In the event that the loud klaxon alarm also goes unheeded the Timer Module 107 starts counting a further time period which can be set to any desired length. If during the further time period, the Timer Module 107 is not reset then a process is started to automatically send a distress message via a DSC Module 105 controlling an RF Module 106 connected to a marine-band antenna 109.

The programming of the Timer Module 107 can be seen in figure 3 in which enabling of the vessels autopilot 11]. starts the 4 minute period set in the Timer Module 107. After the 4 minute period expires the low level alarm 112 sounds. Activation of the reset button 110 cancels the low level alarm 112 and resets the 4 minute period. If the reset button 110 is not activated by the end of the 4 minute period a further 1 minute period begins, during which if the reset button 110 is activated, the 1 minute and 4 minute periods are reset however, if the reset button 110 is not activated within the 1 minute period then a high level klaxon alarm 113 sounds and a further time period begins, in this case 10 minutes. If during this 10 minute period the reset button is activated then all the time periods are reset however, if the reset button 110 is not activated within the 10 minute period then an enabling signal is transmitted to the DSC Module 105.

The programming of the DSC Module 105 can be seen in figure 3 in which GPS positional data 114, time data 115, vessel identification 116 and distress alarm information 117 is collated and transmitted via the RE' Module 106 and the marine-band antenna 109 to the neighbouring vessels 101 and/or the shore station 102 in VHF radio range of vessel 100. Upon receipt of the transmitted information the remote DSC VHF units 104 in the neighbouring vessels 101 and/or the shore station 102 are altered to receive a first warning signal in the form of a voice synthesised message from the DSC VHF unit 104 of vessel 100.

After the first warning signal is transmitted from vessel 100 the alarm is then reset for a time period of 3.5 to 4 minutes after which the GPS positional data 114, time data 115, vessel identification 116 and distress alarm information 117 are transmitted via the RF Module 106 and the marine-band antenna 109 to the neighbouring vessels 101 and/or the shore station 102 for a second time whereupon a second warning signal is transmitted from vessel 100 however, on this occasion the GPS positional data will have changed if the vessel 100 is moving thus allowing the neighbouring vessels 102 to plot the speed and course of the vessel 100 and thereby avoid a collision or help in preventing the grounding of vessel 100.

The GPS positional data 114, time data 115, vessel identification 116, distress alarm 117 and warning signal are automatically transmitted to all remote DSC VHF units 104 within range until either the autopilot 111 is disengaged or the reset button 110 is activated.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of automatically communicating an warning signal to neighbouring vessels, the method comprising: Automatically transmitting a first signal from a vessel after a predetermined alarm time period has elapsed to a plurality of remote DSC VHF units, the remote DSC VHF units being altered by the first signal to receive a first warning signal, automatically transmitting a second signal after a predetermined time period has elapsed to said plurality of remote DSC VHF un.ts, the remote DSC VHF units being altered by the second signal to receive a second warning signal whereby the warning signals received convey changes in location of said vessel to crewmernbers of neighbouring vessels.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined alarm time period is 5 minutes.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of remote DSC VHF units are located on neighbouring vessels or a shore station.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined time period is 3.5 to 4 minutes.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first and second warning signals contain information such as "vessel under way, but not under command".