Broadpoint Provides Critical Assistance Through Offshore Cellular Tower Data to Help U.S. Coast Guard Locate Missing Men
HOUSTON (February 22, 2010) – Broadpoint, a leader in offshore communications and network solutions, today announced its role in the location and rescue of two boaters who went missing in the Gulf of Mexico after their boat capsized. Using call history and geographic phone signal information from the men’s last call attempts, Broadpoint was able to narrow the search and rescue area to just a few miles of open water, providing critical support to the United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) Sector Mobile recovery team. As the only offshore cellular network operator in the Gulf of Mexico, Broadpoint was uniquely positioned to assist in the efforts to successfully locate the men.
“Thanks to the help received from Broadpoint’s team of network engineers and satellite communications specialists, the Coast Guard was able to efficiently and effectively search the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in our quick recovery of the missing men,” said Lieutenant Johnnie Messer, United States Coast Guard, Sector Mobile. “Without their help, the search could have taken much longer, jeopardizing the men’s lives.”
While transporting a vessel from one location to another, the wake of a passing boat caused the men’s boat to take on water and capsize, leaving them helpless in the Gulf. Emergency signals sent to the USCG alerted them of the incident, prompting rescue workers to contact Broadpoint for location assistance. After comparing information about the men’s last recorded phone activity to that of the nearest Broadpoint cellular towers, the search area was narrowed to a specific section of the Gulf. Using this information, the USCG was able to quickly and successfully recover the stranded boaters. The men are now safe thanks to Broadpoint’s support and the Coast Guard’s quick action.
“Our employees acted swiftly and professionally. It was their expertise that allowed Broadpoint to provide the cellular location data that the Coast Guard’s rescue team needed to ensure the men’s swift recovery,” said Errol Olivier, President and CEO, Broadpoint. “In remote areas like the Gulf of Mexico, having a means of communications is critical – and in this instance, it was lifesaving. It is in times like these that we encourage all offshore workers and boaters to examine their current means for emergency communications.”
In addition to enterprise-level communications services, Broadpoint now also offers affordable individual plans. Workers can tap Broadpoint’s 100,000 square mile cellular network for voice, SMS and data service, keeping them connected to home and emergency response agents while offshore.