An empty boat going in circles or steaming along on autopilot; it has happened here on the coast of Maine, and it happened recently to National Fisherman highliner, Joel Kawahara, whose boat was found empty off the coast of California.
It has happened anywhere that fishermen like to work alone. MOB – man overboard – is the number-two cause of death in the fishing industry after vessel loss, and for those who fish alone, going overboard is almost certainly a death sentence, especially in cold waters.
On July 22, 2025, Exposure Marine in the UK announced the launch of a wireless engine kill switch in case of a MOB for fishermen who fish single-handed.
“When you're fishing alone, your safety depends on more than just experience, it depends on preparation,” says the company. “Exposure Marine is proud to announce the launch of the OLAS Guardian Pro, a wireless man overboard (MOB) engine cut-off system developed specifically for solo commercial operators working from small vessels.”
“Inshore fishermen know the risks,” says Exposure Marine. “If you fall overboard while working solo, the engine won’t stop, and your boat could keep moving without you. The OLAS Guardian Pro is designed to cut the engine automatically the moment you go overboard, giving you a critical window to re-board or be rescued. This isn’t just a safety upgrade — it’s a lifeline.”
Sold by ACR Artex in the U.S., the ACR OLAS Guardian is a wireless engine kill switch designed to stop the engine within two seconds of a person going overboard. It also acts as an instant Man Overboard (MOB) Alarm system. Kill switches that require the user to be attached to them with a wire have been available for years, but aren’t functional in commercial fishing situations. The OLAS Guardian Pro allows a fisherman to move around the boat without constantly having to attach and re-attach the physically wired kill cord.
“The Guardian provides coverage for vessels up to 50 feet and is scalable via the use of the OLAS EXTENDER,” says ACR Artex. “Up to 2 OLAS EXTENDERS can be used to cover vessels up to 100ft.”
Since Congress passed a law in 2021, the Coast Guard has required most recreational vessels under 26 feet to be equipped with a kill switch. But the law does not apply to commercial vessels.
