The Coast Guard yesterday accepted its latest installment of the nationwide Rescue 21 search and rescue system, which in this case will provide communications capabilities for the entire Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River up to Washington, D.C.
The General Dynamics [GD]-built Rescue 21 system enables the Coast Guard to quickly respond to distressed mariners using direction finding technology to locate calls within 1.5 miles. It also provides a wireless communications network that the service can use to communicate with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Rescue 21 currently covers more than 35,000 miles of United States coastline, relying on communications towers and command centers. The system is slated to be fully operational in 2012 and cover 42,000 miles of coastline.
The command center for the new system is located at the Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore.