It is responsibility of a vessel to render assistance to a vessel / aircraft in distress on humanitarian

considerations as an international practise. Specific obligations are also laid as per:

a) International convention on Maritime Search & Rescue.
b) SOLAS Chapter V/ Regulation 33

The publication used to assist in this function are IAMSAR VOLUMES 1,2,3

IAMSAR - International Aeronautical and Maritime Search & Rescue

This Publication is in three volumes. Volume 1,2,3.
It is mandatory to keep IAMSAR VOLUME 3 onboard at all times with valid edition.
This book is carried onboard to provide guidance to aircraft & ships:
a) who may need to perform on-scene coordinator functions for multiple facilities in the vicinity of a distress
situation.
b) who may experience actual or potential emergencies , and may require SAR assistance.

The SAR system has three general levels of Coordination :

a) On-scene Coordinators (OSCs)

When two or more SAR facilities are working at a particular site, one of them acts as coordinator of all
participating facilities. The person in charge of the first facility to arrive a the scene normally assume the OSC
function until the SMC arranges for that person to be relieved.

b) SAR mission co-ordinators (SMCs) (Rescue Coordination Centre)

Each SAR operation is carried out under the guidance of SMC. This function exists only for the duration of
specific SAR incident and is normally performed by RCC chief and his assisting staff.

c) SAR coordinators (SCs) (National Level).

They are top level SAR managers. Each country will have one or more person or agencies for whom this
designation will be appropriate. They develop SAR policies, coordinate SAR training , provide and arrange SAR
facilities, establish RCCs etc.

+SEARCH AND RESCUE REGION (SRR) - A search and rescue region is an area of defined dimensions associated
with a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) within which SAR services are provided. It helps to identify as to who
has primary responsibility for coordinating responses to distress situations in every area of the world, but they
are not intended to restrict anyone from assisting persons in distress.

Ship Reporting Systems (SRS) & Vessel Tracking SRS have been established by several states. Ships at sea
may be the only craft near the scene of a distressed aircraft or a vessel.
SRS helps SMC to quickly :
identify vessels in the vicinity of a distress situation, alongwith their position , course and speed.
know how to contact the vessels.
improve likelyhood of rapid aid during emergencies
reduce response time to provide assistance.

HOW DOES SAR SYSTEM WORK !!

SCs are top level people who are resource people to make policies, conduct training , provide facilities etc in a
particular country. The world is divided into different SRRs and each is managed by a RCC .
-When a incident happens which involves Search and Rescue, RCC of that region designates the SMC (SMC are
based on shore) . They are specialised people who have lot of information about all these procedures and to
manage it using technology and resources. The SMC tracks the ships in the vicinity and mobilises the resources
to that area. SMC also prepares the SEARCH ACTION PLAN for rescue. It also nominates the On scene
coordinator (OSC) for that incident. OSC is at the site of incident and coordinates with the ships which are
assisting. SMC stays at the shore. OSC acts the information bridge between the facilities at the site and SMC
sitting ashore. Both of them coordinate and exchange information about all the aspects till the operation is
carried out. This is done till the survivors are found or it is established that there is no use of further carrying
out the search. After this all the facilities are released for their normal work.

How does OSC manages to carryout the search at the site ?

Some important definitions

Datum : It is the geographical reference for the area which is to be searched.

CSP Commence Search Point i.e. the point from which search is to be started.

There are various search patterns that are followed depending on the requirement .

SEARCH AND RESCUE PATTERNS :

1) Expanding Square Search (SS) *

Most effective when the location of the search object is known within relatively close limits.
The commence search point is always the datum position.
Often appropriate for vessels or small boats to use when searching for persons in the water
or other search objects with little or no leeway.
Due to the small area involved, this procedure must not be used simultaneously by multiple
aircraft at similar altitudes or by multiple vessels.
Accurate navigation is required; the first leg is usually oriented directly into the wind to
minimize navigational errors. it is difficult for fixed-wing aircraft to fly legs close to datum if
S is less than 2 NM.

2) Sector Search (VS)

Most effective when the position of the search object is accurately known and the search
area is small.
Used to search a circular area centered on a datum point.
 Due to the small area involved, this procedure must not be used simultaneously by multiple
aircraft at similar altitudes or by multiple vessels.
An aircraft and a vessel may be used together to perform independent sector searches of
the same area.
A suitable marker (for example, a smoke float or a radio beacon) may be dropped at the
datum position and used as a reference or navigational aid marking the center of the
pattern.
For aircraft, the search pattern radius is usually between 5 NM and 20 NM. For vessels, the
search pattern radius is usually between 2 NM and 5 NM, and each turn is 120', normally
turned to starboard.

3) Track Line Search (TS)

Normally used when an aircraft or vessel has disappeared without a trace along a known
route.
Often used as initial search effort due to ease of planning and implementation.
Consists of a rapid and reasonably thorough search along intended route of the distressed
craft.
Search may be along one side of the track line and return. in the opposite direction on the
other side (TSR).
Search may be along the intended track and once on each side, then search facility continues
on its way and does not return (TSN).
Aircraft are 'frequently used for TS due to their high speed.

4) Parallel Sweep Search (PS)

Used to search a large area when survivor location is uncertain.

Most effective over water or flat terrain.
Usually used when a large search area must be divided into subareas for assignment to individual
search facilities on-scene at the same time.
The commence search point is in one corner of the sub-area, one-half track space inside the
rectangle from each of the two sides forming the corner.
Search legs are parallel to each other and to the long sides of the subarea.
Ship and Aircraft Coordinated Searches

Creeping line search, coordinated (CSC) is often used. The aircraft does most of the searching, while
the ship steams along a course at a speed as directed by the OSC so that the aircraft can use it as a
navigational checkpoint.