The Hindu Business Line : Satellite-based system to help fishermen in distress

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Satellite-based system to help fishermen in distress

VXL Tech to make terminals developed by SAC

M. Somasekhar

Hyderabad, Sept. 23

Fishing along the long Indian coastline could soon become less risky for fisherfolk, thanks to a satellite-based system that is all set to be installed in their small boats. A fishermen distress alert system, developed indigenously by the Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, has gone through `trials in water', and is ready for deployment.

VXL Technologies, Faridabad- based company, has been given the order by SAC to manufacture the terminals that would be installed on the boats. The company is expected to deliver the first batch of 100 terminals next month formally to the Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and Director, SAC. By the end of the year, about 1,000 boats would be equipped with the terminals.

The alert system is capable of providing timely help to the fisherfolk who go out into the sea and are caught in trouble. The terminal is connected via satellite to the central hub at the Coast Guard Region (East) at Chennai, where continuous monitoring is done and quick response for rescue if necessary is possible, according to Mr M.Y.S. Prasad, a senior space scientist with the SAC.

Each terminal would have different switches to flash the kind of distress the fisherfolk are in or want to convey- medical emergency, fire or sinking. At the central hub designed by SAC, the kind of distress and location of the boat are flashed for the Coast Guard personnel to swing into action, Mr Prasad told Business Line here.

NAVIGATION DEVICES

The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre of the Coast Guard (East), Chennai, has also been equipped with several new communication and data transfer equipment to help fisherfolk. Mr Prasad said the satellite-based fishermen alert system has been field- demonstrated and with the manufacture by an Indian company, the costs would be considerably lower than imported equivalent used in several countries.

Mr Prasadwas in Hyderabad to participate in the 58th International Astronautical Congress.

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