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Maritime distress beacons no longer rely solely on transmitting a location to a satellite search-and-rescue network. With its new sMRT Shield+, Wescom Group combines global alerting, short-range location tracking, and receipt confirmation into a single device.
A personal locator beacon that combines global alerting with local recovery
The sMRT Shield+ PLB is the first device introduced by Wescom. This personal locator beacon uses the Cospas-Sarsat rescue network on 406 MHz to transmit an alert to professional search and rescue services.
In addition to this satellite function, the device includes two features designed to facilitate nearby rescue operations. The beacon incorporates a two-way DSC alert and also transmits position information via AIS.
This combination addresses two different search criteria. The 406 MHz frequency allows a distress signal to be transmitted through an international rescue system. At the same time, AIS and DSC can alert vessels in the vicinity of the incident and provide them with information they can use to reach the person in distress.
The industrial benefit, therefore, lies less in adding a new frequency than in consolidating multiple alert channels into a single personal beacon.
The alert response changes the relationship between the beacon and its user
The Shield+ also uses the Galileo Return Link Service, or RLS. This service allows the user to receive confirmation that their distress message has been received.
This feature addresses a known limitation of earlier generations of beacons. After a beacon was triggered, the user could send an alert without receiving confirmation that the emergency response chain had successfully received the signal.
According to information provided by Wescom, the MEOSAR system offers both expanded global coverage and more precise location tracking.
The combination of MEOSAR and the RLS thus allows the transmission of a distress signal to be supplemented with feedback to the person wearing the device. In practical terms, this feedback does not itself trigger a rescue operation, but confirms that the alert has been received by the search and rescue system.
DSC and AIS help ships in the area stay in close contact
The other technical approach involves integrating a DSC alert and AIS tracking. The idea is not to rely solely on emergency response teams mobilized via the satellite network. Vessels in the vicinity can also receive information about the distress situation.
Wescom presents its Shield+ as the first PLB using the Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz network to combine this global alert with local recovery via two-way DSC.
For its part, the AIS provides a position that can be used by the navigation equipment on nearby ships.
For professionals, this proliferation of channels also raises the question of integration with equipment already installed on board. However, the source does not provide any details on the respective ranges, operating battery life, or specific transmission conditions for DSC and AIS. These points will need to be addressed in the final product specifications.
A Shield+ EPIRB scheduled for early 2027
Wescom is also developing an EPIRB version of the Shield+ family. The device will make its debut at the SMM trade show, and its release is scheduled for early 2027; the price will be announced at that time.
This transponder must combine DSC, AIS, infrared, and RLS capabilities. Wescom states that it will fully comply with the IMO MSC.471(101) standard.
The inclusion of an infrared device provides another means of tracking during the final phase of a search operation. This approach serves the same purpose as the PLB: to utilize multiple complementary technologies rather than relying on a single location method.
For manufacturers, installers, and operators, this development increases the number of interfaces that must be taken into account. It may also reduce the historical distinction between global alert systems and local tracking systems.
Wescom Expands Its Maritime Security Offerings
Wescom Group will showcase this equipment at SMM alongside its other security-related businesses. In particular, the group offers a range of SOLAS-compliant pyrotechnic devices, electronic security equipment, and pharmaceutical solutions designed to meet onboard medical needs.
The introduction of the Shield+ PLB and EPIRB, however, reflects a trend toward electronic devices that combine multiple functions.
For the professional market, the question now will be to assess the impact of this integration on equipment deployment procedures, user training, and maintenance. The PLB is expected to hit the market soon, while the EPIRB is scheduled for release in early 2027. Once the detailed specifications are available, it will be possible to assess more precisely how this multichannel architecture will change operations on board.
