Abstract

Method and apparatus for reporting of an emergency event experienced by a marine vessel, an airborne vessel or by an occupant of the vessel. The present vessel position, accurate to within a few tens of meters, and (optionally) the vessel velocity and local air quality, is determined at an ordered sequence of times, using a position-determining Global Positioning System, such as the Navstar system or the GLONASS system. If an emergency occurs on the vessel, the approximate present position and time of occurrence of this event is broadcast on one or more of the mobile communication or emergency radiowave bands. Optionally, the type of emergency event that has occurred, drawn from a predetermined list of such types, is also broadcast by a vessel in distress, for receipt by an emergency response facility or by another vessel that can respond to a call for assistance. Optionally, vessel velocity heading and/or vessel position quality of fix information is also broadcast by a vessel in distress.