The RNLI developed MOB Guardian as a 21st century aid to sea safety designed to help save fishermens lives at sea. The installed price is from £372.50 + VAT* but can be fitted FREE if the vessel is insured with either Sunderland Marine or The Scottish Boat Owners who will reimburse the cost (excluding VAT) following installation.
*Gross VAT is payable on the full cost of MOB Guardian before EFF grants and RNLI subsidies. Call 01202 663142 for full details.
Click here for terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions |
- How has the RNLI been involved in MOB Guardian?
- What’s the coverage of the system?
- Is MOB Guardian suitable for all fishing boats?
- Can fishermen fit MOB Guardian themselves?
- What happens if the boat loses all power?
- How long will a PSD work without recharging?
- Will the PSD activate if it gets wet, say from sea spray or rainwater?
- Will the PSD work all over the boat, even down below?
- Can I change the batteries myself?
- Can I cancel a false alert?
- Can the MOB Guardian system stop the boat automatically?
- Can I raise a manual alert for an onboard emergency?
- Is MOB Guardian easy to operate?
How has the RNLI been involved in MOB Guardian?
The RNLI developed the concept to try toimprove safety within the fishing industry, The Institution then signed a contract with McMurdo for commercial manufacture, and with AWS to develop, build and operate the supporting monitoring and reporting infrastructure.
What’s the coverage of the system?
It operates worldwide because it uses the Iridium global satellite system.
Is MOB Guardian suitable for all fishing boats?
MOB Guardian is aimed at vessels uner under 15 m with enclosed wheelhouses, or open boats with watertight compartments for the base unit. Larger vessels can be fitted but will require additional equipment at extra cost. Vessels longer than 15m and open boats must confirm their suitability prior to ordering by organising a survey through AST.
Can fishermen fit MOB Guardian themselves?
No. It is a potentially lifesaving system requiring Iridium satellite activation and correct onboard coverage for PSDs so must be installed and commissioned by AST, the appointed installers.
What happens if the boat loses all power?
The base unit is fitted with rechargeable batteries that will carry on functioning (monitoring or alerting) for at least 6 hours.
How long will a PSD work without recharging?
A minimum of 24 hours provided the batteries are fully charged. Recharging fully depleted batteries takes around 4 hours.
Do I need to pay annual airtime charges?
No. From early 2009 the RNLI will pay for 5 years’ free airtime thanks to a generous legacy donation.
Will the PSD activate if it gets wet, say from sea spray or rainwater?
No. The radio connection is only broken when submerged in water. Being wet without being submerged should not activate the PSD.
Will the PSD work all over the boat, even down below?
Yes. PSDs will function throughout all vessels under 15m. If there is a coverage ‘blind spot’ e.g. due to metallic structures, extra remote head units must be fitted at a small extra cost to extend PSD coverage to those areas.
Can I change the batteries myself?
PSD batteries can only be changed by McMurdo or its agents. You can, however, change base unit battery packs yourself. You can buy replacement batteries from McMurdo or its agents.
Can I cancel a false alert?
Yes. If you push the ‘cancel alarm’ button, a message is sent to the RNLI/Coastguard and no action is then taken. It is advised that skippers also radio the Coastguard to confirm the false alert.
Can the MOB Guardian system stop the boat automatically?
Yes. The system has been designed to interface with existing products to enable this, subject to compatibility with the engine’s management system.
Can I raise a manual alert for an onboard emergency?
Yes. The emergency button on the PSD can be used alerting the RNLI in typically less than 3 minutes. The emergency button on the base unit can also be used in dire circumstances, and will override the built-in safety margin for false activations and alert ashore in typically less than 1 minute.
Is MOB Guardian easy to operate?
Yes. It has been designed to operate almost automatically. There is only a simple button to press when leaving port.
Click here to order
 |  |  |  |