Free app to help save lives at sea

An Irish company has launched a free app to help save lives at sea.

Marine Minister Simon Coveney unveiled the Irish Sailing Association’s (ISA) SafeTrx app in Cork yesterday and urged boat and leisure craft owners to download and use it.

“We have had far too much tragedy off our coast this year, and sadly we expect more — up to 140 drownings before the end of the year,” Mr Coveney said. “This needs a policy and a technology response, as well as an attitude change.

“This app, which can track vessels and help the coast guard respond if needed, is a very welcome development. I hope it will help avoid more heartache and tragedy.”

The app was developed by Cork-based software firm, DeCare Systems Ireland, in association with the Irish Coast Guard and other search and rescue organisations around the world.

It was tested successfully in Australia and Ireland late last year and tweaked before going live first in Australia last February. It has now gone live in Ireland.

Using the GPS system in mobile devices, the app logs position reports every kilometre — or every five minutes if the vessel and phone are still.

If the user fails to reach their destination, or fails to return on time, their emergency contacts will be alerted by a text message.

The coast guard can, through a secure server, monitor users’ locations, vessel description and heading, and the number of persons on board, allowing them to respond in the event of an emergency.

While mobile coverage is available up to 12 miles off the Irish coast, the app will continue logging position reports even when the device is out of range.

Once coverage is restored, the app will upload the logged positions — effectively filling in the voyage blanks.

DeCare’s managing director, John Murphy, said five of the 10 reports issued by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board so far this year have recommended that boat owners leave details of their trip and estimated return time with a responsible person ashore.

The new app is not intended to replace existing safety devices such as marine radios, emergency positioning beacons, and AIS, but it will help to raise an alarm earlier and help emergency services to locate casualties more accurately, he said.

Coast guard director Chris Reynolds said SafeTrx will help take the search out of search and rescue.

“It encourages all sea users to plan and execute their trips better, safer and gives assurance to friends and partners ashore,” he said. But he urged all boat and leisure craft users to download it, including divers, charter boat operators, kayakers and jet skiers.

By the end of last month, the Irish Coast Guard had recorded 1,572 individual missions so far this year — a 45% increase on last year. The coast guard has never surpassed the 2,000-mission mark but it is expected that will happen within a matter of weeks.

Getting on board

* Download the ISA SafeTrx app for free onto your mobile device — it’s available for both Android and Apple iOS devices (iPhone and iPad).

* Register your boat and input your emergency contact details.

* Before setting off on a voyage, enter your sail plan and estimated time of arrival and tap ‘set sail’.

* Place your device in a waterproof bag or case.

* The app tracks your position, and relays the information back to a screen which can be monitored live by the coast guard.

* The app also allows users to upload photos and the location of marine hazards.

* When you arrive at your destination, tap ‘end trip’.

* In the event of an overdue trip or an emergency, the app sends a text to a registered emergency contact.

* For more, see www.sailing.ie