BMEA

McMurdo Ltd, a company of the Orolia Group announces today that the revolutionary FAST FIND 210 PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) received a top industry award in Finland when it was voted Boating Product of the Year at the Helsinki Boat Show.

The FAST FIND 210 PLB, launched only in February 2009, has proved itself to be one of the top marine products of the past year. It received early recognition at the important MAATS trade show in the US last March, winning Best Safety Product and this was swiftly followed by the world’s largest marine retail chain West Marine naming it as their Product of the Year. The FAST FIND was also nominated for a DAME Award in November at METs.

The FAST FIND is currently the smallest 406MHz personal location beacon available in the world. At only 150g and 106mm in length, the mobile phone-proportioned life saver has been extremely popular since the moment it was launched back in February of last year.

“We are delighted and honoured that the public at the Helsinki show chose to recognize the innovation and importance of the Fast Find 210 in this fantastic manner,” comments Jeremy Harrison, CEO of McMurdo Ltd. “The FAST FIND is already making a real difference to personal safety. Now, due to the compact size and price, it is in demand not only in the traditional boating market but also for the first time in new sales arenas. These include kayaking and canoeing, windsurfing, jet skiing, diving and a huge range of non-marine outdoor activities”.

The FAST FIND 210 PLB, which is distributed in Finland by Furuno Finland Oy, was one of ten finalists for Boating Product of the Year 2010 which were selected by an independent panel of judges well respected in their field, before being displayed at the show for the public vote.

The FAST FIND will slip into the smallest pocket or back pack compartment. Users can be confident of being able to alert professional search and rescue services if they are unlucky enough to encounter life threatening situations, even in the most remote parts of the world.

The FAST FIND 210 PLB, which includes 50 channel integral GPS for pinpoint positioning, complies with tough international standards. It operates on the global COSPAS SARSAT 406MHz search and rescue satellite communication system, which is supported by international government search and rescue authorities around the world, so a call for help will be acted upon and fast. The FAST FIND is subscription free and does not rely on commercial call centres.