ACR Electronics, Inc, the world leader in safety and survival technologies for the marine industry, has been selected as the Official Supplier of Marine Safety Electronics for Volvo Ocean Race Round the World 2005-06.

South Florida-based ACR will supply the racing teams with EPIRBs (emergency position indicating radio beacons), search and rescue transponders (SART), GMDSS VHF survival radios and other high-tech safety equipment.

“For nearly half a century, ACR Electronics has focused on making high quality, reliable safety and survival products,” said Paul Hardin, executive vice president of sales and marketing for ACR Electronics. “This long record of safety first and foremost is something we have in common with Volvo, and together we are making every effort to support the teams with the best equipment over the course of this incredible race.”

Andy Hindley, Race Director for the Volvo Ocean Race added, “We take safety very seriously. We chose ACR as our supplier for safety electronics in the knowledge that the equipment they are providing will be the most effective in an emergency situation and has the strength to survive the testing conditions of the race. Should a team release an EPIRB, we are confident that the coordinates will be reported back to Race HQ in the minimum time possible.”

Each boat will be equipped with a GlobalFix(tm) 406 EPIRB, which includes an integral 12-channel parallel GPS to add latitude/longitude coordinates to the emergency signal transmitted by the unit.

In addition to internal GPS, the GlobalFix(tm) 406 features a chip that will acquire a GPS position three to five times faster than a conventional GPS from a cold start. Each team will also be equipped with two RapidFix(tm) 406 EPIRBs to be secured in the liferafts as well as a PathFinder3(tm) SART (search and rescue transponder). This is a new generation survival craft transponder features intensified radar tracking and a built-in test mode with visual and audible feedback.

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