Trusted by coast guards around the world.

The MetOcean Telematics Iridium SLDMB (iSLDMB) is an innovative, rugged, and compact A-size Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy. Cost-efficient and expendable, the drifter is equipped with an Iridium bi-directional satellite transmitter, sea surface temperature sensor, and a GPS receiver.

98%
Air-deployment success rate

Rugged, accurate products.

Timing with Search and Rescue (SAR) missions is critical, and only the most innovative, rugged, and accurate products can be used. When lives are on the line, coast guards trust MetOcean Search & Rescue products.

Search and Rescue

In live Search and Rescue operations, the buoy is deployed to track subsurface ocean currents, providing valuable information on where a person, vessel or aircraft may have drifted to while at sea.

Oil Spill Response

During an oil spill, the iSLDMB can be deployed quickly to help determine where the oil will drift, supporting clean-up companies with pinpointing where to focus their efforts.

Asset Tracking

If an asset of interest is lost at sea, the iSLDMB will provide subsurface current measurements to assist with asset recovery. 

What our clients are saying

“The MetOcean iSLDMB buoy was simple to use and is ideal for a high-pressure situation like an active SAR event.”

“The iSLDMB is a key part of our SAR gear.”

“iSLDMBs significantly reduce overall risk to our personnel during a SAR event.”

The MetOcean Telematics Iridium SLDMB (iSLDMB) is an innovative, rugged, and compact A-size Self Locating Datum Marker Buoy. The iSLDMB was designed and tested to meet the stringent performance requirements of coastguards for Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the open ocean. The iSLDMB design is based on the proven CODE/Davis style oceanographic surface drifters.

The inexpensive and expendable drifter is equipped with several important pieces of technology, including an Iridium bi-directional satellite transmitter, sea surface temperature sensor, and a GPS receiver. Due to the urgency of SAR situations, the iSLDMB is able to communicate critical data within real-time to the end-user with Iridium satellite services. Robustly designed, the iSLDMB is air certified and can be deployed from water vessels, helicopters, fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Depending on the required data transmission rate, the drifter can experience an operating life of up to 15 days.

  • Reliable and innovative design
  • Iridium telemetry
  • Bi-directional communication
  • NATO A-size compliant
  • Air or ship deployable
  • Real-time data
  • Iridium certified

Operation Conditions

  • Air Temperature: -20°C to 35°C (-4°F to 95°F)
  • Water Temperature: -2°C to 35°C (28°F to 95°F)
  • Water Type: Fresh or Salt
  • Significant Wave Height: 3 m (9 ft)
  • Wind Speed: 10 m/s (22 knots)
  • Wind Gusts: 13 m/s (25 knots)
  • External Humidity: 100%
  • Sunlight: Direct Exposure
  • Operating Life at 10°C: Average 15 days
  • Shelf Life: 36 months with storage conditions at ~21°C

Survival Conditions

  • Air Temperature: -30°C to 35°C (-22°F to 95°F)
  • Water Temperature: -2°C to 35°C (28°F to 95°F)
  • Significant Wave Height: 4 m (13 ft)
  • Wind Speed: 14 m/s (27 knots)

Electronics

  • Controller: GPT II
  • Iridium Transceiver: 9602 SBD
  • Antenna: Low profile dual band Iridium / GPS
  • Power Supply: 10 alkaline-manganese dioxide AA cells

Sensors

  • Sea Surface Temperature: US sensor ±.05°C thermistor
  • Battery Voltage: Precision resistive divider
  • GPS Receiver: Navman Jupiter 32

Deployment

  • Deployment Options: Vessel, rotary wing aircraft, or fixed-wing aircraft

Air Deployment Parameters

  • Rotary Wing Aircraft: Hover: 50 – 10,000 ft
    70 to 90 KIAS: 100 – 10,000 ft
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft: 120 to 220 KIAS: 200 – 10,000 ft

Operating Parameters

  • Rapid SAR Mode: The first 24 hours after deployment data sampled and transmitted every 10 minutes
  • Standard SAR Mode: The next 48 hours after deployment data sampled and transmitted every 30 minutes
  • Scientific Mode: Active until end of battery life

Certifications

  • Form factor, ballistic coefficient, center of gravity (COG) and mass match NATO A-Size parameters of pre-existing certified sonobuoys

Contact us to learn more.

+1 902 468 2505

sales@metocean.com