(Continues from last week)
Information Concerning Emergencies:
Passing information to vessels in respect of which an emergency phase has been declared
Whenever applicable, the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre responsible for search and rescue operations shall be responsible for passing to the vessel for which an emergency phase has been declared, information on the search and rescue operation it has initiated.
Co-ordination when two or more parties are involved
Where the conduct of operations over the entire search and rescue region is that responsibility of more than one Party, each Party shall take appropriate action when so requested by the rescue co-ordination centre of the region.
Termination and suspension of search and rescue operations
Uncertainty phase and alert phase:
When during an uncertainty phase or an alert phase a rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre, as appropriate, is informed that the emergency no longer exists, it shall so inform any authority, unit or service which has been activated or notified.
Distress phase:
When during a distress phase a rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre, as appropriate, is informed by the vessel in distress or other appropriate sources that the emergency no longer exists, it shall take the necessary action to terminate the search and rescue operations and to inform any authority, unit or service which has been activated or notified.
If during a distress phase it has been determined that the search should be discontinued the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre, as appropriate, shall suspend the search and rescue operations and so inform any authority, unit or service which has been activated or notified. Information subsequently received shall be evaluated and search and rescue operations resumed when justified on the basis of such information.
If during a distress phase it has been determined that further search would be of no avail, the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre, as appropriate, shall terminate the search and rescue operations and so inform any authority, unit or service which has been activated or notified.
On-scene co-ordination of search and rescue activities
The activities of units engaged in search and rescue operations, whether they be rescue units or other assisting units, shall be co-ordinated to ensure the most effective results.
Designation of on-scene commander and his responsibilities
When rescue units are about to engage in search and rescue operations, one of them should be designated on-scene commander as early as practicable and preferably before arrival within the specified search area.
The appropriate rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre should designate an on-scene commander. If this is not practicable, the units involved should designate by mutual agreement an on-scene commander.
Until such time as an on-scene commander has been designated, the first rescue unit arriving at the scene of action should automatically assume the duties and responsibilities of an on-scene commander.
An on-scene commander shall be responsible for the following tasks when these have not been performed by the responsible rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre, as appropriate:
Determining the probable position of the object of the search, the probable margin of error in this position, and the search area;
Making arrangements for the separation for safety purposes of units engaged in the search;
Designating appropriate search patterns for the units participating in the search and assigning search areas to units or groups of units;
Designating appropriate units to effect rescue when the object of the search is located; and
Co-ordinating on-scene search and rescue communications.
An on-scene commander shall also be responsible for the following:
Making periodic reports to the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre which is co-ordinating the search and rescue operations; and
Reporting the number and the names of survivors to the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre which is co-ordinating the search and rescue operations, providing the centre with the names and destinations of units with survivors aboard, reporting which survivors are in each unit and requesting additional assistance from the centre when necessary, for example, medical evacuation of seriously injured survivors.
Designation of co-ordinator surface search and his responsibilities
If rescue units (including warships) are not available to assume the duties of an on-scene commander but a number of merchant vessels or other vessels are participating in the search and rescue operations, one of them should be designated by mutual agreement as co-ordinator surface search.
The co-ordinator surface search should be designated as early as practicable and preferably before arrival within the specified search area.
The co-ordinator surface search should be responsible for as many of the tasks listed in paragraphs 5.7.4 and 5.7.5 as the vessel is capable of performing.
Initial action
Any unit receiving information of a distress incident shall take whatever immediate action to assist as is within its capability or shall alert other units which might be able to assist and shall notify the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre in whose area the incident has occurred.
Search areas
Search areas determined may be altered as appropriate by the on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search, who should notify the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre of his action and his reasons for doing so.
Search patterns
Search patterns designated may be changed to other patterns if considered necessary by the on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search, who should notify the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre of his action and his reasons for doing so.
Search successful
When the search has been successful the on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search should direct the most suitably equipped units to conduct the rescue or to provide other necessary assistance.
Where appropriate the units conducting the rescue should notify the on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search of the number and names of survivors aboard, whether all personnel have been accounted for and whether additional assistance is required, for example, medical evacuations, and the destination of the units.
The on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search should immediately notify the rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre when the search has been successful.
Search unsuccessful
The search should only be terminated when there is no longer any reasonable hope of rescuing survivors.
The rescue co-ordination centre or rescue sub-centre co-ordinating the search and rescue operations should normally be responsible for terminating the search.
In remote ocean areas not under the responsibility of a rescue co-ordination centre or where the responsible centre is not in a position to co-ordinate the search and rescue operations, the on-scene commander or the co-ordinator surface search may take responsibility for terminating the search.
*Concluded
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