5. INTEGRATION INTO THESEARCH-AND-RESCUE-PROCESS
The rescue vessel is only one part of the developed Searchand-Rescue-System.
The entire system consists of the main
elements particularly modified rescue vest (POB) with its
AIS transmitter RA, rescue vehicle, and parent ship or
platform like it is shown in Fig. 6.
The central element on board the parent ship or offshore
platform is the Search-and-Rescue-Control-Station (CS).
It represents the main monitoring and control system
of the Search-and-Rescue-Process and is provided by an
electronic chart display (ECDIS). The Control-Station is
supplied with data of the on-board navigation sensors
(SEN1) to monitor the whole traffic situation including
the AIS data send by the POB rescue vest. Furthermore
it processes the video data and controls the rescue vessel
in manual mode. The whole Search-and-Rescue-Process
IFAC MCMC 2012
September 19-21, 2012. Arenzano, Italy
76
Fig. 6. Integration into the Search-and-Rescue-Process
will be recorded automatically by the Control-Station.
Therefore, simulated training is possible based on real
data.
The portable remote control unit (MDF) is used for
manual and partially automated remote control of the
rescue vehicle as well as the rescue basket. The Search-andRescue-Operator
has the possibility to control the vessel
with different control modes like, manual mode controlling
the two podded drives separately, single joystick mode
controlling heading and speed of the vessel, and course-tosteer
track mode regarding the influence of drift. Therefore,
the head of the joystick is turnable. Furthermore, it
shows conditions, warnings and malfunctions of the rescue
equipment.
The midsection of Fig. 6 describes the different elements
concerning the rescue vehicle with its communication and
control system (NAV) and sensors (SEN2), explained in
section 3. Finally, the radio data communication and video
transmission between the rescue vessel and the Searchand-Rescue-Control-Station
is realised by the communication
link RV.