Safety: Finding instead of searching: MOB localisation system put to the test

One of the biggest problems with the man-overboard manoeuvre is keeping an eye on the person in the water. Even at slow speed, the yacht moves away from the scene of the accident alarmingly quickly while the crew is busy operating the boat. As the person who has gone overboard also drifts off, even an immediately set waypoint is not much help. Once visual contact has been lost, it is difficult to find them again, at least without electronic aids.

This is where the Mobos system from Seareq comes in. It is based on a method developed for diving. It is designed to locate divers who have drifted away due to underwater currents and surface far from the base ship - a situation very similar to man-overboard. The system includes a transmitter weighing around 185 grams, the size of a distress rocket, and a receiver, which is supplied either in a waterproof carry case or as a fixed installation device.

The mobile version was available for our test. The small case, which is not even the size of a shoebox, contains the receiver, battery and GPS receiver and works completely independently. It can also be conveniently carried in your flight luggage.

Read in the current issue of YACHT whether the system actually works as well as the manufacturer promises.

Issue 3/2017 now on newsstands, in the DK-Shop or order digitally.