The i911 program allows for watchstanders to use a mariner’s cellphone number to assist in finding their location for Coast Guard rescue crews to locate them faster. Once the number is entered, the mariner receives a text message authorizing them to share their location with the U.S. Coast Guard. Once shared, the internal cell phone’s GPS, which uses satellites to pinpoint the mariner’s location, is displayed on a screen for watchstanders to aid in the search for them.

This software is already available to first responder agencies across the country. It was developed by Callyo Inc. and is a free service for all first responders, including the Coast Guard.

Depending on the cell phone service, i911 can determine locations of distressed mariners from up to 15-20 nautical miles offshore. During the pilot period, more than 38,000 search and rescue cases across the contiguous United States were analyzed, and it was found that 89 percent of all SAR cases took place within 20 nautical miles off shore.

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, located in New Haven, Connecticut, was the first to test the system. It was a success and subsequently all five First Coast Guard District Sector command centers became part of the pilot program.

It’s not a perfect system though, there are some challenges

The biggest challenge watchstanders at Sector Long Island Sound found was teaching distressed mariners how to turn on their location services. The i911 system will not work without it.

Read full press release at the USCG website.