Rescue 21

Rescue 21
The original uploader was Volney at English Wikipedia. · Public domain · source
Name	Rescue 21
Caption	Coast Guard communications system antenna array
Country	United States
Service	United States Coast Guard
Used by	United States Coast Guard
Manufacturer	Raytheon
Introduced	2000s

Rescue 21 is a United States Coast Guard communications system modernizing coastal distress, search-and-rescue, and maritime safety communications along the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts. The program replaced older Very High Frequency (VHF) systems and integrated direction-finding, Digital Selective Calling, and automated logging to enhance responses to incidents off the shores of states such as California, Florida, New York, and Alaska. It was developed amid evolving maritime challenges involving commercial shipping, recreational boating, and environmental disasters such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Overview

Rescue 21 was conceived to address limitations revealed in prior incidents like the Exxon Valdez and operations involving assets from the United States Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The initiative aligned with mandates influenced by legislation including the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and recommendations from inquiries such as the 9/11 Commission and the National Transportation Safety Board. The system sought interoperability with systems used by agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, United States Department of Transportation, Canadian Coast Guard, and multinational frameworks such as the International Maritime Organization.

Development and Deployment

The procurement and development phase involved contractors like Raytheon Technologies, and program oversight included stakeholders from the United States Coast Guard Academy, the United States Congress, and the Government Accountability Office. Early testing drew upon assets from the Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, Sector San Diego, and research partners at institutions like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Naval Research Laboratory. Deployment occurred in phases across districts overseen by commands in locations such as Boston, Massachusetts, Miami, Florida, Seattle, Washington, and Honolulu, Hawaii with coordination among regional units like Sector New York and Sector Houston-Galveston. The program navigated budgetary oversight from committees including the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Technical Specifications

Rescue 21 used VHF maritime band frequencies standardized by the International Telecommunication Union and incorporated Digital Selective Calling (DSC) protocols in line with Global Maritime Distress and Safety System practices. Hardware included high-gain antenna arrays, direction-finding equipment, and automated call logging systems installed at sites such as former LORAN-C towers and coastal lighthouses like Point Reyes Light and Morro Bay Light. The architecture integrated with satellite assets from providers similar to Iridium Communications and links to data systems used by the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey for situational awareness. Security and continuity measures referenced standards from National Institute of Standards and Technology and coordination with United States Cyber Command-related policies for critical infrastructure protection.

Operational Use and Incidents

Operational employment of the system supported rescues involving diverse craft from recreational vessels to commercial tankers, cooperating with units such as Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton and Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf. Notable operational contexts included responses to hurricanes like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy, where coordination with organizations including the American Red Cross and United States Army Corps of Engineers was essential. Incidents where the system's direction-finding and DSC alerting proved decisive involved search patterns coordinated with aerial units from Air Station Kodiak and surface units from squadrons like Sector Long Island Sound. Interagency coordination extended to partners such as United States Customs and Border Protection and local entities like the Los Angeles Police Department Harbor Division.

Program Impact and Evaluation

Evaluations by entities such as the Government Accountability Office and the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General assessed Rescue 21’s effectiveness in reducing search times, improving call authentication, and enhancing situational logs for post-incident analysis. The program influenced subsequent projects involving maritime domain awareness supported by initiatives like the Integrated Maritime Surveillance System and informed standards adopted by the International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities. Critics and auditors compared cost and schedule performance against other acquisitions such as the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System and examined life-cycle sustainment analogous to Littoral Combat Ship program reviews. Overall, the system contributed to modernization efforts that affected training at institutions like the United States Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown and doctrine updates incorporated into manuals of the U.S. Naval Institute.

Category:United States Coast Guard Category:Maritime communication systems