GPS for Boat Safety

The death of four tourists in January in a houseboat accident in the state of Kerala, India, has led to a new idea for using GPS tracking devices. Authorities in Kerala are piloting a program to put GPS devices on 100 houseboats to create a safer environment for tourists and locals alike. By using GPS tracking devices, the government will be in a better position to maintain awareness of the locations of houseboats, which attract many tourists but also run many risks in backwater areas within Kerala.

How it Will Work

The main part of the program using GPS technology with houseboats will be to use a tracker to keep track of the location of a houseboat and monitor what is happening with it. There are possibilities of using a “geo-fence” to know immediately if there are any variations or alterations in the expected routes of houseboats, which may be the result of an accident or the influence of criminals. Tourists will generally be able to enjoy the added benefit of knowing where they are at all times with their location being tracked at all times.

Potential for Use Outside India

The idea of using GPS tracking for houseboats in India helps create possibilities for watercraft in America and other countries. By keeping up with tracked boats and other water vehicles, it allows many the freedom associated with knowing where someone is, whether it is a family member or someone borrowing or renting a boat. It would be beneficial to know immediately that someone has charted a different course so that you have a chance to try to figure out why. It might also provide a situation similar to using Lojack for cars, to make sure that no one is stealing your boat.

Using GPS for Safety

While it is hard to say that using GPS on houseboats in general will prevent any future accident or mishap, the use of GPS tracking on the water can mean the difference in life or death, due to the speed at which help can be dispatched. There will also be time saved in locating exactly where the craft went down.

It sounds like Kerala Tourism has a viable way to keep their people safe. Vacationing in Kerala is now a little safer, thanks to the use of GPS tracking.

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GPS for Boat Safety