(Dartmouth, Nova Scotia) August 31, 2009 – MetOcean is pleased to announce, that it has been awarded funding to develop the next generation Self Location Datum Marker Buoy (SLDMB).  

Project Syren will embrace the expanding needs and requirements of the Search and Rescue (SAR) community. Two key objectives of this development project are to incorporate Iridium satellite telemetry into the proven MetOcean SLDMB design and to decrease the overall size of the present SLDMB. The proposed 66% decrease in size is essential to the project, as it enables the buoy to be more user-friendly and easier to handle during high pressure SAR situations.   

There are numerous advantages of Iridium satellite telemetry.  The Iridium satellite constellation provides data within real-time, which is vital to search and rescue operators. The Iridium satellite also offers bi-directional communication capabilities, which will provide users with flexibility during SAR operations and Iridium provides the most cost effective data plans.  

The new SLDMB will maintain the ability to be deployed with ease from helicopters, ships, fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. The project management and core design development of the new buoy will take place at MetOcean’s production facility in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

“Project Syren has been a long time coming and everyone here is very excited to have it move forward.  The idea for this next generation SLDMB has been ready and waiting for the right time, and with the necessary resources in place, the right time is now.  This project design has its own distinct improvements but also incorporates some aspects from other recent product re-designs that can be used on the SLDMB.”  - David Steele, P.Eng., Project Development Manager