Seventh North Atlantic Marine Rescue Coordination Centre's conference.

The conference, scheduled to take place from July 9 to 11 at the Princess hotel, has attracted 40 delegates and observers.

Richard Parkes of Bermuda Harbour Radio said the major theme will be implementation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.

"This system represents the biggest improvement to marine safety since the first regulations were put in place following the sinking of the Titanic ,'' he said.

"We are honoured to be hosts of this meeting. This demonstrates Bermuda's involvement in international collaboration to promote and improve all aspects of safety of life at sea.'' Delegates from overseas will be senior staff from rescue coordination centres which are responsible for search and rescue in the North Atlantic.

Countries represented will include Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, the UK, and the US.

Observers from the Netherlands and Britain's Royal National Lifeboat Institution will also attend.

Presentations at the meeting will include use of the Internet, windsurfers in distress, false alerts, mass rescue exercise, and cellular phones and their use in search and rescue.

There will also be a presentation on Cospas-Sarsat, an international satellite system which provides distress alert and location information.

HARBOUR RADIO RAO