The Guardian
Wristwatch
Manoverboard
(MOB) transmitter

(waterproof watch with 121.5 MHz homing in signal)

by McMurdo / Pains Wessex

The Guardian wristwatch has a built in transmitter that will automatically activate an international 121.5 Mhz emergency signal when immersed in water. Its design and functionality will encourage the user to wear it as if it were a normal watch. It has a large digital display, chronograph timer, LCD backlight, and is water resistant to a depth of 150 feet. The MOB feature produces an emergency signal for up to 8 hours. The signal is detectable from 15 nautical miles away. When used in conjunction with an onboard emergency receiver and direction finder, the watch can facilitate the quick recovery of anyone who goes overboard.

One of the biggest risks at sea is the danger of falling overboard from a fast moving yacht or while working in exposed conditions such as the back of a fishing vessel. The recovery of a manoverboard is always a difficult and complex task, especially in bad weather and in heavy seas when this sort of accident is most likely to happen. Until recently, devices to alert others on the vessel that someone has fallen overboard have been large and cumbersome making them difficult to wear while working.

The new Guardian changes all this by incorporating a 121.5MHz transmitter into a normal size and shape Quartz wristwatch. Light and easy to wear the Guardian has all the functions of a conventional timepiece including an alarm, backlight, date and stopwatch. In the event of the wearer falling overboard the signal will trigger an immediate audible alarm to a vessel or helicopter equipped with a receiver or direction finder, giving plenty of time for the mother ship to locate the casualty. The rescue can then be made without the need for assistance from the search and rescue services. The miniaturized transmitter is powerful enough to send a signal to a vessel up to 1.0nm and up to 15nm to a helicopter.

The Guardian, which will not activate in normal sea spray, can be set to operate automatically on immersion in seawater, or manually. Whilst sending a signal a flashing LED light and audible alarm will sound giving the manoverboard reassurance that the watch is transmitting. The Guardian will transmit for over 6 hours and has a battery life of over 1-year.

Water resistant to 50 metres the watch is ideal for divers. With few safety products currently available for this vulnerable sector, the Guardian MOB system is set to become one of the industry's most useful lifesaving products. It can alert a dive boat that a diver has surfaced out of site, or is in distress on surfacing.

The Guardian conforms to the new EU R&TTE Directive

Waterproof quartz multifunction digital watch equipped with a 121.5 MHz transmitter

121.5 MHz homing in signal transmits for 8 hours

Signal transmission range to helicopter is greater than 15 nautical miles

Signal transmission range to rescue craft is greater than 0.5 nautical miles

Automatic activation on immersion in seawater (will not activate in sea spray)

Manual on/off override button

Battery life over 12 months

Waterproof remote alarm receiver and loudspeaker available for use in tracking down watch and its wearer