ISRO develops second-generation Distress Alert Transmitter (The Hindu)

  • 19 Jan 2024

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Why is it in the News?

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has developed an improvised Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) with advanced capabilities and features for the fishermen at sea to send emergency messages from fishing boats.

What is a Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT)?

  • The first version of DAT has been in operation since 2010, allowing fishermen at sea to send emergency messages from their fishing boats.
  • These messages are transmitted via a communication satellite to the Indian Mission Control Centre (INMCC), the central control station, where the alert signals are decoded to determine the identity and location of the distressed fishing boat.
  • The extracted information is then relayed to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs) under the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), enabling coordinated Search and Rescue operations to assist fishermen in distress.

About the Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG):

  • Leveraging advancements in satellite communication and navigation technology, ISRO has enhanced DAT into the Second Generation DAT (DAT-SG). DAT-SG not only allows fishermen to send distress alerts but also provides them with acknowledgements, assuring them that rescue operations are underway.
  • In addition to transmitting distress signals, DAT-SG can receive messages from control centres.
    • This feature enables the sending of advance alert messages to fishermen about adverse weather conditions, cyclones, tsunamis, or other emergencies.
    • Moreover, the system transmits information on Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs) to fishermen at regular intervals.
  • DAT-SG can be connected to mobile phones using a Bluetooth interface, and messages can be read in the native language through a mobile app.
    • The central control centre employs a web-based network management system called "SAGARMITRA," which maintains a database of registered DAT-SGs.
    • This system assists MRCCs in accessing real-time information about distressed boats, allowing the Indian Coast Guard to initiate Search & Rescue operations promptly during distress situations.