Coast Guard Places "Rescue 21" into Service

In December 2005, the U.S. Coast Guard announced a significant milestone in its critical life saving and homeland security missions by officially accepting Rescue 21, for this region, at a ceremony that was held at Air Station Atlantic City. Keynote speakers included the Honorable Frank LoBiondo, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation; and Adm. Thomas H. Collins, Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Rescue 21 is a search and rescue and command and control system, leveraging 21st century technology to boost search and rescue capability and better protect the nation’s coastal waterways and ports. The system improves the way the Coast Guard locates and assists distressed boaters, enabling interoperability with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and with first responders.

The Rescue 21 system has been thoroughly tested in both the Atlantic City and Eastern Shore areas, with full nationwide system rollout to 44 additional regions slated for completion in 2011. Integrating state-of-the-art digital technology with expanding mission needs allows Rescue 21 to drastically improve response time and reliability by providing increased geographic coverage along coastal areas, navigable rivers and waterways, and improved interoperability with other emergency agencies.