McMurdo and Techno-Sciences, Inc., Announce the mSAR Mobile Search and Rescue Command System for Military, Government and Emergency Customers

Joint solution is the first outcome of strategic partnership to provide end-to-end products, systems and solutions to the global search and rescue market

McMurdo, a business of the Orolia Group and a world leader in search and rescue (SAR), emergency response management and surveillance solutions, and Techno-Sciences, Inc. (TSi), a world leader in satellite-aided SAR solutions, today announced their first jointly developed SAR offering, the mSAR Mobile Search and Rescue Command System. The mSAR, utilising the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system, consists of a fully portable SAR solution - command center equipment, location estimation software and satellite communications - that can be housed and transported in a truck, container vessel or military vehicle to quickly deploy emergency response systems where most needed anywhere in the world.

"SAR solutions are highly dependent on satellite coverage and, therefore, today they are limited to locations with fixed satellite ground stations. This innovative mobile SAR system brings a new level of portability and mobility to the SAR industry - providing critical information closer to those who need it most for faster decision making and quicker response," said Jeremy Harrison, CEO, McMurdo . "It represents the foundation of the McMurdo/TSi partnership - to create comprehensive end-to-end offerings that leverage years of technological expertise, streamline the entire rescue chain and, ultimately, save lives."

In a typical search and rescue scenario, 406MHz distress beacons from ships, aircraft or individuals transmit signals from an emergency location to a fixed ground receiving station via satellite. The ground receiving station calculates the location of the emergency and generates an alert. Mission control centers receive the alert and forward the information to the appropriate authorities for rescue.

The mSAR system combines the ground receiving station and mission control center into a self-contained, mobile unit. Users now have the portability, speed and control for faster and targeted response in close proximity to an emergency location. Satellite data can be immediately accessed transferred and reviewed when and where needed especially in areas where fixed satellite coverage may not be available. Specific regions of the world can be monitored by selecting specific satellites to track. And, alert signals can be decoded locally and confidentially disseminated to specific audiences.