MILWAUKEE — The Coast Guard held a ceremony and demonstration in Milwaukee Friday to accept the new Rescue 21 communications system at Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, which spans all but the northernmost portions of Lake Michigan.
Rescue 21, the Coast Guard’s advanced command, control and direction-finding communications system, was created to more efficiently locate mariners in distress to save lives and property at sea and on navigable waterways.
“Rescue 21 will significantly enhance the sector’s ability to hear and quickly answer the call when assistance is needed,” said Rear Adm. Michael Parks, commander of the 9th Coast Guard District. “Rescue 21 helps take some of the ‘search’ out of ‘search and rescue.’ It also reduces unneccesary and wasteful responses to hoax calls. But most of all, it saves lives.”
Since Rescue 21 became operational at Sector Lake Michigan in December 2011, it has been used in more than 58 search and rescue cases. More information about Rescue 21, which is operating throughout the U.S., can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/rescue21.
