AU2014100827A4

AU2014100827A4 - Passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations

Info

Publication number: AU2014100827A4
Application number: AU2014100827A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pablo Bermudez Pestonit; Jaime Casals Diaz; Richard J. Duro Fernandez; Fernando LOPEZ PEÑA; Alejandro Paz Lopez; Gervasio Varela Fernandez
Original assignee: Scio Soft SL
Current assignee: Scio Soft SL
Priority date: 2012-01-18
Filing date: 2014-07-18
Publication date: 2014-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-18
Also published as: ES2530690R1; RU152040U1; WO2013107914A1; ES2530690B1; JP3195991U; BR212014017817U2; ES2530690A2

Abstract

PASSIVE SAFETY PERSONAL EQUIPMENT IN VESSELS FOR MAN OVERBOARD There is disclosed a passive safety system and personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations. The system comprises personal equipment (1,21) and a piece of on board equipment (10,50), each piece of personal equipment comprising: a life jacket (25) folded inside the flap (23) of an item of clothing (20), for example overalls with a harness, worn by a crew member of the vessel and configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket (25) and placing the jacket around said person's neck; an inflation module (22) connected to the jacket (25) and configured for inflating the jacket (25) when the personal equipment (21) detects a man overboard situation; a communications device (28) with a radio beacon and a wireless communications module for establishing a link with the on board equipment (10,50); and a control module (29) for controlling the personal equipment with a GPS (41). Fig. 7 AH25(89292971):SPM

Description

1 PASSIVE SAFETY PERSONAL EQUIPMENT IN VESSELS FOR MAN OVERBOARD SITUATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is included in passive safety systems for "man overboard" (MOB) situations, for allowing an immediate detection of said situation and a quick rescue by proper means, or by nearby ships which may or may not have the system, or by government rescue services. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The safety systems existing today for "man overboard" situations are expensive and complex and are thought and designed for large vessels, where falling into the sea is complicated, which have proper rescue means and in which sinking times take quite a few minutes. [0003] There are different types of personal jackets and beacons, but none is integrated within a safety system, being limited to firstly keeping the sailor afloat and secondly emitting a generic signal. [0004] Utility model ES 1068634-U describes an emergency device in which a buoy attached to a belt is automatically inflated when a man overboard situation occurs. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the above prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] There is disclosed herein a passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel, said personal equipment comprising: a life jacket; and an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket 2 when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation, wherein the life jacket is folded inside a lapel of an item of clothing, said lapel configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket such that the jacket pops out when the lapel is lifted and is placed around said person's neck. [0007] There is also disclosed herein a passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel, said personal equipment comprising: - a life jacket; - an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation, wherein the life jacket is folded inside a lapel of an item of clothing, said lapel configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket such that the jacket is placed around said person's neck. [0008] There is also disclosed herein a passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel, said personal equipment comprising: - a life jacket; - an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation; wherein the life jacket and the inflation module are included inside a casing integrated in a belt, said casing having a flap configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket, allowing it to come out of the casing. [0009] There is also disclosed herein a passive safety system in vessels for man overboard situations, comprising: - at least one passive safety personal equipment as described above; - an on-board equipment installed on the vessel; wherein each personal equipment and the on-board equipment have a wireless communications module through which they establish a radio frequency link, the on-board equipment being configured for monitoring the presence of each personal equipment on the vessel through said link and, in the event of detecting the absence of a personal equipment, emitting an alarm signal.

3 [0010] There is also disclosed herein a passive safety system in vessels for man overboard situations comprising a piece of on board equipment installed on the vessel and a piece of personal equipment. [0011] There are different embodiments of the personal equipment. In a first embodiment the personal equipment comprises electronics housed in a preferably plastic casing connected to a jacket. The folded jacket together with the casing is introduced inside a pocket of a belt designed for such purpose. This way of wearing the personal safety equipment is much more comfortable than a traditional jacket, since it does not tire the user's neck and is very comfortable for on board tasks, but it has the drawback that when the sailor falls into the sea, he/she has to put the jacket on, since the jacket is automatically inflated and floats beside him/her, as will be explained below. [0012] In a second embodiment of the personal equipment, the jacket is placed in a user's item of clothing, and preferably in a strap structure of overalls such that it does not tire the neck and is already worn when it inflates, such that it holds the sailor without him/her needing to perform any action. The electronics, which is inside a single casing in the first embodiment, has now been divided into several parts or modules for its correct operation, such that the weight is distributed along the entire item of clothing and is not uncomfortable. A water sensor has further been incorporated for reinforcing the fall detection algorithm since using only radio signals could be a problem in very large ships and metal ships. [0013] The passive safety system in vessels for man overboard situations comprises at least one piece of personal equipment, each piece of personal equipment prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel, and a piece of on board equipment installed on the vessel. Each piece of personal equipment and the on board equipment have a wireless communications module through which they establish a radio frequency link, the on board equipment being configured for monitoring the presence of each piece of personal equipment on the vessel through said link and, in the event of detecting the absence of a piece of personal equipment, emitting an alarm signal. The personal equipment comprises: - a folded life jacket; - an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation.

4 [0014] The personal equipment preferably comprises a radio beacon for emitting an alarm signal at a certain frequency, the equipment being configured for activating the radio beacon when a man overboard situation occurs. [0015] The on board equipment can have a display screen and a radio frequency signal receiver configured for receiving the alarm signal from the radio beacon of each piece of personal equipment, the on board equipment being configured for guiding the vessel to the position of the personal equipment emitting said alarm signal by means of said display screen. [0016] The system can additionally comprise a communications server located on land and a mobile communications system; the personal equipment including a mobile communications module and a satellite positioning module, and the personal equipment being configured for sending an alarm message to the communications server when a man overboard situation occurs by means of its mobile communications module, such message including the location obtained by its satellite positioning module. [0017] In a preferred embodiment, the personal equipment comprises a satellite positioning module and is configured for detecting the man overboard situation by means of: - checking the existence of a radio frequency link with the on board equipment by means of the wireless communications module; and/or - checking the reception of positions by means of the satellite positioning module. [0018] The system can comprise a communications server located on land and having a mobile communications system, wherein the on board equipment has a mobile communications module and a satellite positioning module, the on board equipment being configured for sending an alarm message to the communications server when a man overboard situation occurs by means of its mobile communications module, such message including the location obtained by its satellite positioning module. [0019] When an alarm message is received, the communications server is preferably configured for: - obtaining the location included in said alarm message; - identifying at least one vessel within a predefined radius with respect to said location; - sending an alarm message with the obtained location to said at least one vessel.

5 [0020] When an alarm message is received, the communications server can be configured for: - obtaining the location included in said alarm message; - sending an alarm message to the rescue services with the obtained location. [0021] The on board equipment preferably has a VHF radio transmitter capable of sending DSC messages and communicating by radiotelephony, and a satellite positioning module, the on board equipment being configured for sending a DSC distress message when a man overboard situation occurs, such message including the location of the vessel obtained by its satellite positioning module and putting the VHF radio on the international emergency situation communication channel for facilitating radiotelephony communication between the shipwrecked person's ship and the rescue services or vessels that have received the DSC message. [0022] The on board equipment can have a VHF radio capable of receiving DSC messages and a display screen, the on board equipment being configured for obtaining said location and guiding the vessel to said location by means of the display screen when receiving a DSC alert message including a location. [0023] The wireless communications module of each piece of personal equipment and of the on board equipment can be, for example, a Bluetooth module or a Zigbee module. [0024] There is also disclosed herein a piece of passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations, prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel and comprising: - a folded life jacket; - an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation. [0025] The equipment preferably comprises a satellite positioning module and a wireless communications module through which it establishes a radio frequency link with a piece of on board equipment of the vessel; the personal equipment being configured for detecting the man overboard situation by means of: - checking the existence of a radio frequency link with the on board equipment by means of the wireless communications module; and/or - checking the reception of positions by means of the satellite positioning module. [0026] The equipment can comprise a water sensor, the personal equipment being configured 6 for detecting the man overboard situation using the information of said water sensor. [0027] In a preferred embodiment, the equipment comprises a mobile communications module, the personal equipment being configured for additionally detecting the man overboard situation by means of checking the reception of positions using said satellite positioning module. [0028] The equipment can be configured for sending an alarm message to a communications server when a man overboard situation occurs by means of the mobile communications module, said message including the location obtained by the satellite positioning module. [0029] The equipment preferably comprises a radio beacon for emitting an alarm signal at a certain frequency, the personal equipment being configured for activating the radio beacon when a man overboard situation occurs. [0030] In a preferred embodiment, the life jacket can be folded inside the lapel of an item of clothing prepared to be worn by the person on board the vessel, said lapel being configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket and placing the jacket around said person's neck. The item of clothing can be, for example, overalls which in turn can comprise a harness located inside the overalls. [0031] In another preferred embodiment, the life jacket and the inflation module are included inside a casing integrated in a belt, said casing having a flap configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket, allowing it to come out of the casing. [0032] The equipment preferably comprises a communications device inside a leak-tight casing which can include: - the wireless communications module through which a radio frequency link is established with the on board equipment; - a mobile communications module; - a radio beacon. [0033] The equipment can comprise a control module for controlling the personal equipment, which includes buttons for turning the equipment off or on and for cancelling or activating the man overboard situation, acoustic warning means and light warning means and a GPS.

7 [0034] In a preferred embodiment, the inflation module comprises at least one CO 2 canister connected to the jacket and a perforating system for perforating said at least one CO 2 canister, the perforating system in turn comprising: - at least one spring per CO 2 canister compressed and locked by means of at least one catch; - at least one perforating element per CO 2 canister for the perforation thereof; - operating means configured for releasing the at least one catch once they are activated when a man overboard situation is detected and thereby allowing the extension of the at least one spring for pressing the at least one perforating element and thereby perforating the at least one CO 2 canister to inflate the jacket. [0035] Embodiments of the present invention can provide the following advantages: - Immediate detection: The system detects the MOB situation with great speed and precision as a result of its proper algorithm which can combine three different signals emitted by three different systems. - Quick rescue: Since it is based on the principle that the best rescue is the closest vessel and to that end it notifies and aids nearby ships and government rescue services in locating the shipwrecked person's ship. - Exact locating: In addition to notifying the possible nearest "rescuer", it provides the latter with GPS position information of the shipwrecked person and capability of heading to said point following the instructions of the on board equipment. - Integration with rescue services: In addition to having proper MOB locating and tracking capability, the system emits alarms at the frequencies established by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) both over VHF Channel 70 and the 121.5 MHz radio beacon, therefore assuring integration with global rescue systems. The on board equipment also listens for VHF Channel 70 MOB alarms of emitted by other ships which, though lacking the system, have the capability of emitting messages using on board communication systems. - Buoyancy: By incorporating a self-inflating jacket the system assures buoyancy of the shipwrecked person and therefore locating the body even if he/she has not survived or even if he/she has fallen from the vessel unconscious. - Ergonomics: Unlike traditional jackets, it allows performing any task on board the ship without any interference and with complete normality as it is integrated in an item of clothing (e.g. in a belt, in overalls or a similar item with flaps/lapels) since sailors usually use this clothing in their jobs.

8 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0036] A series of drawings aiding to better understand the invention and expressly related to an embodiment of said invention presented as a non-limiting example thereof is briefly described below. [0037] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the piece of passive safety personal equipment included in a compartment attached to a belt. [0038] Figure 2 shows the personal equipment with the jacket inflated for the embodiment of Figure 1. [0039] Figure 3 shows the personal equipment integrated in a casing of a belt with the jacket folded therein for the embodiment of Figure 1. [0040] Figures 4A and 4B depict, respectively, an inner view and an elevational view of the inflation module for inflating the personal equipment connected to the jacket for the embodiment of Figure 1. [0041] Figure 5 depicts an example of on board equipment forming part of the passive safety system for the embodiment of Figure 1. [0042] Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the passive safety personal equipment included in overalls. [0043] Figure 7 shows, the personal equipment with the jacket inflated for the embodiment of Figure 6. [0044] Figure 8 shows the inner structure of the overalls for the embodiment of Figure 6. [0045] Figure 9 depicts the communications device of the personal equipment which is integrated in the overalls for the embodiment of Figure 6. [0046] Figure 10 depicts the inflation module for inflating the jacket for the embodiment of Figure 6.

9 [0047] Figure 11 depicts the control module for controlling the personal equipment incorporating the actuation and on buttons as well as the horn and strobe light for the embodiment of Figure 6. [0048] Figure 12 depicts another example of on board equipment, suitable for the embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0049] The present invention consists of a passive safety system for "man overboard" situations, for allowing a fast detection of said situation and a quick rescue, either by proper means, by nearby ships which may or may not have the system or by government rescue services. [0050] The system is made up of a piece of personal equipment which is physically attached to the person and a piece of on board equipment which is installed on the vessel. Optionally, the system also has a communications server located on land and responsible for controlling the mobile communications (e.g. GSM) between the different components of the system. [0051] A first embodiment of the personal equipment 1, as shown in Figure 1 (where the jacket is folded inside a casing 2) and Figure 2 (with the jacket inflated), comprises: * A casing 2 integrated in a fastenable belt 4 which adjusts to the user's back. * A life jacket 5 which is folded inside the casing 2 the upper part of which is attached to the casing 2 (preferably by means of a first strip 6) and the lower part of which is connectable to the belt 4 (for example attached by means of a second strip 6' to a buckle 7 of the belt 4) when the jacket 5 is inflated. * An inflation module 8 located inside the casing 2 and connected to the jacket 5, responsible for inflating the jacket 5 when the "man overboard" situation occurs. When the jacket 5 is inflated by this inflation module 8, the jacket 5 and the inflation module 8 pop out through an opening in the upper part of the casing 2 when a flap 3 which can hang freely or be slightly secured to the casing 2 (for example by velcro) is lifted. The jacket 5 and inflation module 8 assembly is attached to the casing through the strip 6, which is integral to the jacket. [0052] For this first embodiment of the personal equipment, Figure 3 shows a view of the casing 2 of the personal equipment 1 integrated in the belt 4. Said casing 2 houses therein the inflation module 8 comprising the control electronics, GSM communications module, Bluetooth or 10 Zigbee communications module, GPS receiver, a 121.5 MHz radio beacon, all inside a leak-tight casing. [0053] Figures 4A and 4B show, respectively, an inner view and an elevational view of the inflation module 8 of the personal equipment 1 for this first embodiment of the personal equipment, comprising two CO 2 canisters 9 connected to the jacket 5 and an electrical perforating system for the perforation thereof. The jacket 5 is folded and connected to the rear part of the inflation module 8 as can be seen in Figure 4B. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the perforating system is made up of a servomotor 14, two catches 15, four springs 16 (although in the elevational view only two springs are seen, there are two other springs which are underneath) and two bayonets 17. The operation is as follows: [0054] Once the system is assembled, the springs 16 are loaded and locked by means of the catches 15. - When the system deduces that the jacket must be inflated it acts on the servomotor 14. - The servomotor 14 releases the catches 15 and therefore the springs 16 expand. - With the force exerted by the extension of the springs, the bayonets 17 perforate the

CO

2 canisters 9 such that when said system is activated (in a man overboard situation), the CO 2 canisters 9 inflate the jacket 5 automatically. The canisters and the electrical system are inside a leak-tight casing. [0055] The inflation module 8 for inflating the personal equipment 1 comprising actuation buttons for turning the equipment on and off, as well as for triggering or cancelling the alarms. It specifically incorporates three buttons: one for turning it on-off and two others which allow, when pressed simultaneously, cancelling a man overboard situation or triggering said situation manually. [0056] In a first embodiment, Figure 5 depicts a view of the on board equipment 10. The on board equipment 10 is a piece of equipment installable on vessels including: * Control electronics. * Display screen 12. * Buttons 13 for turning on/off, control menus and turning the acoustic signal off in alarm situations. A touch screen could also be used as a user interface. * GSM communications module.

11 * Bluetooth or Zigbee communications module. * GPS receiver. * DSC (Deep Sound Channel) message emitter and receiver over VHF Channel 70. * 121.5 MHz radio frequency signal receiver. * 100 dB siren. [0057] Finally, the communications server is made up of one or more computers of the medium server type in cluster configuration for assuring continuous operation. [0058] If a sailor falls into the sea, the system works as follows for this first embodiment: - The sailors go on board and put the personal equipment 1 on. - The ship leaves port and the on board equipment 10 is automatically on "alert" checking that all the sailors are on board at all times by means of the Bluetooth or Zigbee communications module, and sending a message to the communications server with the ship's GPS position every so often. - A sailor falls into the water at a given time. - The personal equipment 1 detects the situation and the inflation module 8 inflates the life jacket 5 in less than 10 seconds. The personal equipment 1 checks if it has Bluetooth or Zigbee connection with the ship's equipment to detect the situation. If it does not, it checks if it receives GPS positions. If it does not receive them, it checks if it has GSM coverage. It retries a certain number of times (e.g. three times) and if it continues without a connection in the three signals, it determines that it is in the water. The inflation module 8, which houses the electronics, controls the entire operation. - The on board equipment 10 detects the situation and sounds the siren so that the on board personnel perform the rescue. The ship's equipment is constantly checking that it has a Bluetooth or Zigbee connection with the personal equipment. If it loses it, it retries a certain number of times (e.g. three times) and if it does not achieve it, it determines that the equipment is not on board. - If the on board personnel have not performed the rescue (have not cancelled the alarm) after a predetermined time has lapsed, the following occurs: * The inflation module 8 activates the 121.5 MHz radio beacon (which can be cancelled by means of the user simultaneously pressing two buttons of said inflation module 8 and sends a message to the communications server with the GPS position by means of the GSM communications module. The inflation module 8 has two buttons which can be 12 accessed through openings made in the casing 2. * The on board equipment 10 sends a message to the communications server with the alarm and its GPS position by means of GSM, it further sends an international MOB alarm message with GPS position over VHF radio channel 70 so that it can be heard by nearby ships or by land rescue stations. - If the on board equipment has not received the confirmation that the alarm has been received over VHF radio channel 70, it sends a message to the communications server reporting said situation. The server identifies the ships near the shipwrecked person which have the system (because the server periodically receives the GPS positions of the ships which have the system) and sends an alarm with the GPS position of the sailor. - The on board equipment 10 of the ship itself and the nearby ships which have the system receive the alarm with the shipwrecked person's GPS position (over channel 70 if they are nearby and if not via GSM) and guides the vessel to the sailor by means of the display screen 12. - If there is no nearby ship (or a ship with the system, or a ship which has received the MOB alarm over VHF channel 70) the rescue services which have received the message over channel 70 are activated and move to the ship's GPS position at the time of the sailor's fall. They locate the shipwrecked person with the aid of the 121.5 MHz radio beacon. [0059] In the case of a sinking ship, the system works for this first embodiment for the piece of personal equipment as follows: - The sailors go on board and put the personal equipment 1 on. - The ship leaves port and the on board equipment 10 is automatically on "alert" checking that all the sailors are on board at all times and sending a message to the communications server with its GPS position every so often. - The ship sinks and the sailors fall into the sea at a given time. - The personal equipment 1 detects the situation and the inflation module 8 inflates the life jacket 5 in less than 10 seconds. - If the alarm has not been cancelled after a few seconds have lapsed the inflation module 8 activates the 121.5 MHz radio beacon and sends a message to the communications server with its GPS position by means of the GSM communications module. - The server identifies the ships near the shipwrecked person/persons and sends an alarm with the GPS position of the sailor/sailors. - The on board equipment 10 of the nearby ships which have the system receive the 13 alarm with the shipwrecked person's/persons' GPS position (via GSM) and guides the vessel to the sailor by means of the display screen 12. - If there is no nearby ship, the rescue services are activated and move to the ship's GPS position at the time of sinking. They locate the shipwrecked person with the aid of the 121.5 MHz radio beacon. [0060] In a second embodiment, the personal equipment 21, as shown in Figure 6 (where the jacket is folded inside the lapel 23 of the overalls 20) and Figure 7 (with the jacket inflated), comprises: * A life jacket 25 which is folded inside the lapel 23 of the overalls 20. * An inflation module 22 which is inside the overalls 20 and connected to the jacket 25, responsible for inflating the jacket 25 when the "man overboard" situation occurs. When the jacket 25 is inflated by this inflation module 22, the jacket 25 and a communications device 28 pop out through an opening in the lapel of the overalls, when a lapel 23 which can hang freely or be slightly secured to the overalls (for example with velcro) is lifted. * A control module 29 for controlling the personal equipment 21, attached to the jacket and having buttons, a horn and a warning strobe light and GPS receiver. [0061] Figure 8 shows the harness located inside the overalls allowing the user to remain hooked to a "life line" (line which is firm on deck) to prevent accidentally falling into the sea. This harness further allows the sailor to be lifted, being grabbed by his/her upper part once floating in the sea. [0062] Figure 9 shows the communications device 28, comprising the control electronics, GSM communications module, Bluetooth or Zigbee communications module, a 121.5 MHz radio beacon and a water sensor, all inside a leak-tight casing. [0063] Figure 10 shows an inner view of the inflation module 22 for inflating the personal equipment 21, comprising two CO 2 canisters 31 connected to the jacket 25 and an electrical perforating system for the perforation thereof. The jacket 25 is folded and connected to the upper part of the inflation module 22 as seen in Figure 7. The perforating system is made up of a servomotor 34, two catches 35, four springs 36 (although in the elevational view only two springs are seen, there are two other springs which are underneath) and two bayonets 37. The operation is as follows: 14 - Once the system is assembled, the springs 36 are loaded and locked by means of the catches 35. - When the system deduces that the jacket must be inflated it acts on the servomotor 34. - The servomotor 34 releases the catches 35 and therefore the springs 36 expand. - With the force exerted by the extension of the springs, the bayonets 37 perforate the

CO

2 canisters 31 such that when said system is activated (in a man overboard situation), the CO 2 canisters 31 inflate the jacket 25 automatically. The canisters and the electrical system are inside a leak-tight casing. [0064] Figure 11 shows the control module 29 for controlling the personal equipment 21 comprising GPS 41, horn 46, strobe light 42, actuation buttons for turning the equipment on and off, as well as for triggering or cancelling the alarms. They specifically incorporate three buttons: one for turning it on-off 43 and two others 44 and 45 which allow, when pressed simultaneously, cancelling a man overboard situation or triggering said situation manually. [0065] It should be pointed out that if in the case shown in the figures, the electronics of the personal equipment (21) has been divided into three modules (22,28,29), each with different components, any other number of modules (e.g. 1, 2, 4, etc.) and arrangement of the elements (e.g. the GPS could be included in the communications device 28, instead of in the control module 29) could be chosen. [0066] The three modules of the personal equipment (i.e. the communications device 28, the control module 29 and the inflation module 22) are connected by cable which is adhered to the jacket. They can thus communicate with one another. [0067] Figure 12 depicts a view of the on board equipment 50. The on board equipment 50 is a piece of equipment installable on vessels including: * Control electronics. * Alarm system control display screen 52. * Buttons 53 for turning on/off, control menus and turning the acoustic signal off in alarm situations. A touch screen could also be used as a user interface. * GSM communications module. * Bluetooth or Zigbee communications module. * GPS receiver.

15 * VHF radio for sending and receiving DSC messages and for using sound. * 121.5 MHz radio frequency signal receiver. * Speaker 51. * Microphone. * Buttons for acting on the VHF radio 55. * Control display of the VHF radio 54. [0068] Finally, the communications server is made up of one or more computers of the medium server type in cluster configuration for assuring continuous operation. [0069] If a sailor falls into the sea, the system works as follows: - The sailors go on board and put the personal equipment 21 on. - The ship leaves port and the on board equipment 50 is automatically on "alert" checking that all the sailors are on board at all times by means of the Bluetooth or Zigbee communications module, and sending a message to the communications server with the ship's GPS position every so often. - A sailor falls into the water at a given time. - In less than 10 seconds the communications device 28 of the personal equipment 21 detects the situation and sends the order to the inflation module 22 to inflate the life jacket 25. The personal equipment 21 checks if it has Bluetooth connection with the ship's equipment to detect the situation. If it does not, it checks if it receives GPS positions. If it does not receive them, it checks if the water contact has been activated. It retries a certain number of times (e.g. three times) and if it continues without a connection in the two signals and the water contact is still active, it determines that it is in the water. The communications device 28, which houses the electronics, controls the entire operation. - The on board equipment 50 detects the situation and emits an alarm sound through the loudspeaker so that the on board personnel perform the rescue. The ship's equipment is constantly checking that it has Bluetooth or Zigbee connection with the personal equipment. If it loses it, it retries a certain number of times (e.g. three times) and if it does not achieve it, it determines that the equipment is not on board. - If the on board personnel have not performed the rescue (have not cancelled the alarm) after predetermined time has lapsed, the following occurs: * The communications device 28 turns the strobe light 42 of the control module 29 for controlling the personal equipment 21 on and activates the 121.5 MHz radio beacon 16 (which can be cancelled by means of the user simultaneously pressing two buttons of the control module 29 and sends a message to the communications server with the GPS position by means of the GSM communications module. When the sailor falls into the sea, the module does not receive GPS position as it is underwater but when the jacket 25 is inflated the modules of the personal equipment 21 come to the surface and recover the GPS position such that it can now be sent. The on board equipment 50 sends a message to the communications server with the alarm and its GPS position by GSM means, it further sends an international MOB alarm message with GPS position over VHF radio channel 70 so that it can be heard by the nearby ships or by land rescue stations, putting the VHF radio on the international emergency channel so that the sailors on board can speak with the nearby ships or with the rescue services. - If the on board equipment has not received the confirmation that the alarm has been received over VHF radio channel 70, it sends a message to the communications server reporting said situation. The server identifies the ships near the shipwrecked person which have the system (because the server periodically receives the GPS positions of the ships which have the system) and sends an alarm with the GPS position of the sailor. - The on board equipment 50 of the ship itself and the nearby ships which have the system receive the alarm with the shipwrecked person's GPS position (over channel 70 if they are nearby and if not via GSM) and guides the vessel to the sailor by means of the display screen 52. -If there is no nearby ship (or a ship with the system, or a ship which has received the MOB alarm over VHF channel 70) the rescue services which have received the message over channel 70 are activated and move to the ship's GPS position at the time of the sailor's fall. They locate the shipwrecked person with the aid of the 121.5 MHz radio beacon. [0070] In the case of a sinking ship, the system works as follows: - The sailors go on board and put the personal equipment 21 on. - The ship leaves port and the on board equipment 50 is automatically on "alert" checking that all the sailors are on board at all times and sending a message to the communications server with its GPS position every so often. - The ship sinks and the sailors fall into the sea at a given time. - In a short period of time, for example in less than 10 seconds, the communications device 28 of the personal equipment 21 detects the situation and gives the order to the inflation 17 module 22 to inflate the life jacket 25. - If the alarm has not been cancelled after a few seconds have lapsed, the communications device 28 turns the strobe light on and activates the 121.5 MHz radio beacon and sends a message to the communications server with its GPS position by means of the GSM communications module. - The server identifies the ships near the shipwrecked person/persons and sends an alarm with the GPS position of the sailor/sailors. - The on board equipment 50 of the nearby ships which have the system receive the alarm with the shipwrecked person's/persons' GPS position (via GSM) and guides the vessel to the sailor by means of the display screen 52. - If there is no nearby ship, the rescue services are activated and move to the ship's GPS position at the time of sinking. They locate the shipwrecked person with the aid of the 121.5 MHz radio beacon.

Claims

1. Passive safety personal equipment in vessels for man overboard situations prepared to be worn by a person on board a vessel, said personal equipment comprising: a life jacket; and an inflation module connected to the life jacket and configured for inflating the jacket when the personal equipment detects a man overboard situation, wherein the life jacket is folded inside a lapel of an item of clothing, said lapel configured for being opened by the action of inflating the jacket such that the jacket pops out when the lapel is lifted and is placed around said person's neck.

2. The equipment according to claim 1, wherein the item of clothing is overalls comprising a harness located inside the overalls.

3. The equipment according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a wireless communications module through which it establishes a radio frequency link with an on-board equipment of the vessel; the personal equipment being configured for detecting the man overboard situation by means of checking the existence of the radio frequency link with the on board equipment by means of the wireless communications module.

4. The equipment according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a water sensor, the personal equipment being configured for detecting the man overboard situation using the information of said water sensor.

5. The equipment according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a control module for controlling the personal equipment, including buttons for turning the equipment off or on and for cancelling or activating the man overboard situation, acoustic warning means and light warning means and a GPS. Scio Soft, S.L. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON