Ocean Signal, manufacturer of life-saving equipment, has been awarded a King’s Award for Enterprise in the Innovation category.
The honour is widely regarded as one of the highest official business accolades, with the company one of 185 organisations in the UK to be recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise in 2026.
Ocean Signal achieved the award for its rescueME PLB3 Personal Locator Beacon, a PLB that merges 406MHz and Automatic Identification System (AIS) capability.
The PLB3, which was the overall winner of the Metstrade DAME Design Awards in 2022, integrates global satellite alerts, local AIS positioning, confirmation through RLS (Return Link Service) and mobile connectivity, improving speed and accuracy of rescues and providing reassurance to those in distress.
Unique challenge
“This award represents a proud milestone for the entire Ocean Signal team. Recognition with the King’s Award for Enterprise is an extraordinary honour, reinforcing our satisfaction in delivering life-saving innovations that support and safeguard the global maritime community,” said James Hewitt, Ocean Signal managing director.
“We set out to develop the world’s first AIS-equipped PLB knowing it presented a unique challenge, with significant barriers to overcome in design, in the utilisation of multiple levels of signal technology and in the establishment of a new regulatory approval pathway.”
Ocean Signal develops, prototypes and manufactures a range of life-saving devices including EPIRBs, PLBs, MOB devices, search and rescue transponders (SART), VHF radios and electronic distress flares.
Organisations receiving a King’s Award for Enterprise may use awards emblem for five years.
The awards, previously known as the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, are in their 60th year.
