This section will introduce you to how
unseen coordination maybe planned and
executed the method by which the search
and rescue coordination is achieved may
vary depending on the detailed
organization in the area when a
search-and-rescue incident occurs a
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
will normally be designated the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
will normally operate from a Rescue
Coordination Center or a rescue
coordination sub centre the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
will obtain search-and-rescue facilities
plan search-and-rescue operations
provide overall coordination designate
an on-scene coordinator when a vessel or
aircraft becomes aware of a
search-and-rescue instant directly it
should alert the appropriate
Coordination Center in one of the
following ways
contact the Coordination Center or RSC
responsible for the search-and-rescue
region where the incident occurred
contact the nearest Coordination Center
or RSC contact any coordination center
or RSC which can be reached
contact any communication facility the
first facility to arrive in the vicinity
of a search-and-rescue incident should
assume on-scene coordinated duties and
if necessary search-and-rescue mission
coordinated duties until a
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
has been designated for the maritime
environment ships masters typically
perform the on-scene coordinator
function search-and-rescue operations
are normally guided by specially trained
and equipped land-based personnel
land-based communication facilities
include
land earth stations local user terminals
coast radio stations air traffic system
units the types of facilities involved
in the response and the region of the
search-and-rescue instant effect on
scene coordination available facilities
may include designated search and rescue
units civil aircraft and vessels
military and naval facilities with
search and rescue capability when
designating the on-scene coordinator the
following factors should be remembered
when two or more search-and-rescue
facilities conduct operations together
the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator should designate an on-scene
coordinator if this is not practical a
mutual agreement must be made as soon as
possible until an on-scene coordinator
has been designated the first facility
arriving at the scene should assume the
duties of an on-scene coordinator when
deciding how much responsibility to
delegate to the on-scene coordinator the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
normally considers the communications
and personnel capabilities of the
facilities involved the on-scene
coordinator has many duties here is a
list of the more important ones
coordinate operations of all
search-and-rescue facilities on scene
receive the search action plan or rescue
plan from the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator or plan the
search-and-rescue operation if no plan
is available modify the search action or
rescue action plan as the situation on
scene dictates keeping the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
advised coordinate on scene
communications monitor the performance
of other participating facilities ensure
operations are conducted safely
paying particular attention to
maintaining safe separations among all
facilities both surface and air make
periodic situation reports to the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
maintain a detailed record of the
operation advise the search-and-rescue
mission coordinator to release
facilities no longer required report the
number and names of survivors to the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
provide the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator with the names and
designations of facilities with
survivors aboard report which survivors
are in each facility request additional
search and rescue mission coordinator
assistance when necessary when multiple
aircraft conduct search-and-rescue
operations the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator may designate an aircraft
coordinator in addition to an on-scene
coordinator the main duty of the
aircraft coordinator is to maintain
flight safety by maintaining safe
separation of aircraft ensuring common
pressure settings are used advising the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator of
on seen whether implications determining
aircraft entry and departure points and
altitudes filtering radio messages to
and from search and rescue aircraft
ensuring proper use of frequencies
coordinate with adjacent area control
centers and aircraft prioritizing and
allocating tasks coordinating the
coverage of search areas making periodic
consolidated reports of search and
rescue aircraft to the search-and-rescue
mission coordinator or on-scene
coordinator working closely with the
on-scene coordinator so operations
normally involves some risks to
personnel and equipment safe and
effective sorrow operations
bend on coordinated teamwork and sound
risk assessment the following points are
important to remember saving distressed
persons and the safety of assisting
personnel should both be of concern to
the on-scene coordinator the leaders
must ensure that personnel performed
properly as a team with a common mission
search-and-rescue action plans provided
by the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator are only guidance for the
on-scene coordinator and
search-and-rescue facilities on seen the
risks inherent in any search and rescue
response must be considered against the
chances for success and the safety of
search and rescue personnel the
following points highlight some
practical concerns for assessing the
situation is the distress craft in
immediate danger of causing harm or
placing the rescue facility in jeopardy
can the rescue facility handle the
weather conditions has the distress
craft given enough information to
prepare the assisting vessel to aid in
the rescue can be assisting facility
realistically be of assistance if
recovery of a large number of survivors
is a factor
can the rescue facility accommodate them
with regards to food shelter living
space etc if helicopter operations are a
factor is the vessels construction
suitable for such operations and does
the rescue facility have enough
crewmembers available to assist the
on-scene coordinator should ensure that
reliable communication is maintained on
seen the search-and-rescue mission
coordinator will select search and
rescue dedicated frequencies for use on
scene inform the on-scene coordinator
for search-and-rescue facilities and
established communications with adjacent
coordination centers and parent agencies
of search-and-rescue facilities
as appropriate the on-scene coordinator
should maintain communications with all
search-and-rescue facilities and the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator a
primary and secondary frequency should
be assigned for on-scene communications
if a frequency shift is carried out
instructions should be provided about
what to do if intended communications
cannot be reestablished on the new
frequency all search-and-rescue
facilities should carry a copy of the
international code of signals which
contains communication information
internationally recognized by aircraft
vessels and survivors situation report
should be used to inform of unseen
mission progress and conditions here are
some examples of possible sitreps the
search-and-rescue mission coordinator
use the situation report to keep
superiors other coordination centers and
Rescue Coordination sub centers and
other interested agencies informed where
pollution or the threat of pollution
exists from the vessel or aircraft
casualty the agency test with
environmental protection should be an
information address see on all situation
reports provide earliest notice of an
emergency pass urgent essential details
when requiring assistance pass
amplifying or updating information
during search-and-rescue operations
initial situation reports should be
transmitted as soon as details of an
instance become clear enough to indicate
search-and-rescue involvement situation
reports should not be delayed and
necessarily for confirmation of all
details further situation reports should
be issued as soon as other relevant
information is obtained information
already past should not be repeated
during prolonged operate
shins no change situation reports should
be issued at intervals of about three
hours to reassure recipients that
nothing has been missed when the
incident is concluded a final situation
report should be issued as confirmation
situation reports prepared on scene
usually provide the following
identification information the situation
report number identification of the
distressed craft a one or two word
description of the emergency situation
report numbered sequentially throughout
the case when an on-scene coordinator is
relieved on seen the new on-scene
coordinator continues the situation
report numbering sequence situation
reports prepared on scene usually
provide the following situation
information a description of the case
the conditions that affect the case any
amplifying information that will clarify
the problem after the first situation
report only changes to the original
reported situation need to be included
situation reports prepared on scene
should usually provide a report of all
action taken since the last report
including results of such action when an
unsuccessful search has been conducted
the report includes the area searched
hours searched factors that may have
decreased search effectiveness such as
weather or equipment difficulties a
situation report provided on scene
should usually provide the following
information about future plans
description of actions plan for future
execution recommendations request for
additional assistance the following
community
station systems may be used by the
Coordination Center and RSC for shorter
ship distress traffic radio telex navtex
worldwide navigational warning system
radio Telegraph the phonetic alphabet
the frequencies in the following tables
are available for safety purposes
distress communications and
search-and-rescue operations
press a button to display a short sitrep
or the other for a long
sitrep