USCG Rescue 21 system?

[DriftR]

Read an article about the new Rescue 21 system that has been installed as a test system back east in two places. It is called the state of the art boater system of tracking( a maritime 911).
Maybe the USCG in Depoe or Newport can chime in on this new service and tell us more about it.

[Gloucester]

DriftR...here is an overview link to Rescue 21.
Rescue 21

CS

[Boatdog]

Rescue 21 revolutionizes how the Coast Guard communicates and carries out its various missions. The system offers:

Enhanced VHF-FM and UHF (line-of-site) coverage, for more certain reception of distress calls.

Position localization — within 2 degrees — of VHF-FM transmissions, so rescue vessels have a dramatically smaller area to search.

An increase in the number of voice and data channels from one to six, allowing watchstanders to conduct multiple operations. No longer will a single caller in distress — or worse, a hoax caller — prevent another caller from getting through.

Protected communications for all Coast Guard operations.

Position tracking of certain Coast Guard assets such as boats and cutters.

Digital voice recording with immediate, enhanced playback, improving the chances for unclear messages to be understood.

Improved interoperability among the Coast Guard and federal, state, and local partners, so additional resources can be added to rescue operations as needed.

Digital selective calling (DSC), an alternate distress communication system used internationally on Channel 70. If properly registered with a Mobile Maritime Service Identity (MMSI) number and interfaced with GPS, the DSC radio signal transmits vital vessel information, position, and the nature of distress (if entered) at the push of a button.

Please note that the Coast Guard will be DSC-enabled only where and when Rescue 21 is fully rolled-out.
A world-class system for a new world of challenges

Rescue 21 will provide the U.S. with a maritime distress and response communications system comparable to state-of-the-art systems in Great Britain and Norway, only on a much grander geographic scale. The Coast Guard’s new system will also rival the land-based systems that many state and local emergency services already have in place.

By replacing outdated technology with a fully integrated communications system that bridges interoperability gaps, Rescue 21 boosts the ability to protect boaters and the nation’s coasts. Saving lives and providing homeland security are both vital missions in the 21st century.

Sounds like a very capable system. But for $611M, it should be.

[5 Salt]

Good Video can be found at:

Rescue 21 Video - 17MB

[BiteFactory]

The (automated?) direction finding (accurate within 2 degrees) should make life harder for those hoaxers.