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USS Rodney M. Davis Installs MOBI

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061107-15
Release Date: 11/7/2006 3:38:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Leah Quinton, Northwest Region Fleet Public Affairs

EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- The USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) crew and contractors completed the installation of a man overboard indicator (MOBI) system Nov. 3.

“This system is going to help the Navy cut down on lives lost,” said Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Michael Mayo, of Davis' operations department. “It’s a positive thing. This is a good system.”

MOBI is a personal saltwater or manually activated alarm system that aids in the detection, location and recovery of Sailors who go overboard.

“I feel a lot safer because even though these float coats keep you in the water, this device will have you located,” said Seaman Luis Figueroa, also of Davis' operations department. “Let’s say that this float coat fails, the transmitter won’t. I think this transmitter is very important and essential for everybody. The sea is rough and this makes me feel a lot safer.”

The system consists of a transmitter, receiver and direction finder. Sailors wear a pager-sized transmitter unit on their MK-1 float coat, or in a pouch on their belt. In an overboard emergency, the transmitter will automatically activate and send out a signal after three to five seconds of saltwater immersion. The transmitter’s signal triggers an audible alarm at the bridge mounted receiver, which simultaneously displays the Sailors identification information. The direction finder then locates the transmitter’s signal and displays the relative bearing information on the radio direction finder. The transmitters can be tracked up to 18 nautical miles.

“The goal is to have everyone who’s in a float coat to have those [the transmitters] on their person and then eventually, every individual onboard will be able to have a little one that they hold with them,” said Lt. Brian Sims, Davis operations officer. “It’s a good life saving device.”

Some of the Davis crew received training on how to use the MOBI system from the contractors who installed it. Those Sailors will pass down what they learned to their shipmates prior to going underway again. Refresher training will include the use of videos and the contractors Web site.

“They [the contractors] trained me on how to work the system and I’m going to train the rest of my personnel on how to use it,” said Mayo. “It’s very user-friendly.”