1. A Blackberry ® smartphone to the Rescue of the S/V Element Quest
14th North Atlantic MRCC Meeting
th October 2011
Gijón, Spain
Rescue Coordination Center Norfolk
LT Scott Farr

2. Case Details S/V Element Quest Intention to circumnavigate the globe
Built foot sailboat
Wood and fiberglass
Full-length lead filled keel
Diesel engine
03 POB (Master disabled)
Intention to circumnavigate the globe
35,000 mile journey
Departs New York to Z Nov 2009

3. Case Timeline (06 Nov 2009) Brian McGraw calls RCC Halifax
Voic sent from S/V Element 1121Z
Brian McGraw calls RCC Halifax
Relays to RCC 2031Z
RCC Bermuda 2112Z
Probability Survival Detection Aide (PSDA)
07 hrs functional / 13.8 hrs survival
Water temp 61F
Facebook page message sent
SPOT command center notified
Watch 2215Z

4. Equipment Onboard Satellite phone (used to leave voicemail)
SPOT device
406MHz EPIRB
Signaling devices
Dingy
VHF radio
w/DSC (not hooked up)

5. Sound File Conversion Unclear voice transmission
…”call the Coast Guard!”
Obtained voic from reporting source
Incompatible sound file
Blackberry Adaptive Multi-rate (.amr) format vs.
Waveform (.wav) format
Used 3rd Party Audio Conversion software
Imported into Goldwave to manipulate
Success!

6. SAR Optimal Planning System
LKP 60NM outside New York (SPOT device)
New York to Bermuda is 630NM
Estimated position # 1 (Wild guess)
Estimated position # 2 (Educated)
Hoist position

7. MT-60 Jayhawk (CGR 6034) Air Station Elizabeth City, NC
Max Endurance: hrs
Cruise Speed: 125KTS
Max Range: 700NM
Radius of Action: 300NM

8. C-130J Hercules (CGR 2001) Air Station Elizabeth City, NC
Max Endurance: hrs
Cruise Speed: 320KTS
Max Range: 5,500NM
Radius of Action: 2,000NM

9. USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
Norfolk, VA
Cruise Speed: 30+KTS
Max Range: Unlimited

10. Sortie Data O/S Weather Winds: 30 – 60KTS Seas: 60 – 100FT
M/V Sea Pearl (AMVER)
C Z
Hears MAYDAY call & vectors in SRU’s
HH-60T 0740Z
USS Eisenhower (Lilypad)
O/S Weather
Winds: 30 – 60KTS
Seas: 60 – 100FT
Visibility: Minimal

11. Conclusion
Hoisted to safety
Debriefed
03 Souls saved

12. For more information… USCG Proceedings magazine Fall 2011 Edition

13. Questions?