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Distress Mobile Application for Coastal Fisherman and Small Boat Operator
Nur Afiqah Binti Mohamad
Supervisor: Mr. Mohd Hafizi Bin Said
Bachelor of Science (Nautical Science and Maritime Transport)
School of Ocean Engineering
afiqah.mohamad96@yahoo.com
The boats with outboard engine and with the total length from two to twelve meters
only are not required by the regulation to install any communication devices and not
even a VHF radio. Hence, the only means of communication during an emergency
situation at sea is by using a personal mobile phone. In the case of an emergency at
sea, the victim will try to make a phone call to their family members, closest friends,
and fishermen community leader. The information given could be incomplete for
example without mentioning the exact position. Besides that, it will cause some delays
in search and rescue operation, as the message has relay to many parties before it
goes to the relevant authority. Thus, the best solution for this issue is by developing
a smartphone application which capable to send a distress message by using a single
tap and given a standard important information directly to the authority directly. This
research will develop the features and architecture of a smartphone-based application
to assist fisherman and near coastal boaters during any distress situation at sea. The
proposed Mobile Maritime Distress and Safety System is an integrated Android-based
mobile application to alert and to facilitate the Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency
in search and rescue operation. The smartphone application will be developed using
the MIT Application Inventor. Smartphone could become a perfect tool to provide
various maritime safety-related information and to provide a method for quick
information distribution to the public and rescue teams due to emergency.
Keywords: Fisherman, Maritime Search and Rescue, Smartphone Application
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