PURPOSE: To be rescued promptly by obtaining distress location and time based upon the signal from a GPS receiver so as to generate distress signal using that information and ship's or air craft's call sign, and by transferring to a search rescue organization through VHF band data link it.

CONSTITUTION: When a ship 2 is wrecked, a distress signal is generated automatically or manually. This signal has a specified data format, containing the call sign of the wrecked ship 2, the positional information obtained from a GPS receiver and a clock information. The signal is transmitted on VHF band radio wave from the ship 2, to be received by a seacoast station 6. The seacoast station 6 notifies a search rescue organization 4 through a dedicated line 7 without delay, and distress rescue begins. When an aircraft 1 receives the distress signal, it is transferred to an aeronautical station 5 and the organization 4 is informed of it through the line 7. In a similar manner, the distress signal is transferred also to a patrol boat 3 for rescue action.