SE422
Search & Rescue Organization Management
Captain – Ibrahem Elsemsar
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 1
DEFINITIONS
Search and rescue service
The performance of distress monitoring, communication, coordination and search and rescue
functions, initial medical assistance, or medical evacuation, through the use of public and
private resources, including cooperating aircraft, vessels, and other craft and installations.
Search
An operation normally coordinated by a rescue coordination center (RCC) or rescue
subcenter (RSC) using available personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress.
Rescue
An operation to retrieve(recover) persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other
needs, and deliver them to a place of safety.
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 2
What are the International SAR Agencies?
➢International Maritime Organization (IMO)
➢International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
✓Develop global SAR plans, procedures,
techniques, and training for SAR
✓Both suggest a system where rescue
coordination centers (RCC) are assigned
SAR Regions (SRRs) across the world.
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IAMSAR Manuals
International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue manuals
3-volume Manual
✓Volume 1 – Organization and Management
✓ Volume 2 – Mission Coordination
✓ Volume 3 – Mobile Facilities
3
oA new edition is published every years.
oEach Volume is created for specific SAR system duties.
o Each Volume can be used as a “stand-alone” document or in conjunction with
the other two volumes.
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IAMSAR VOLUME 1 – Organization and Management
Purpose
Discusses global SAR system concept,
establishment and improvement of national
and regional SAR system, and cooperation
with neighboring nations to provide
effective and economical SAR services
Primary User
SAR System Managers
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IAMSAR VOLUME 2– Mission Co-ordination
Purpose
To assist personnel who plan and
coordinate SAR operations and
exercises.
Primary User
Rescue Co-ordination Centers (RCCs)
and
Rescue Sub-centers (RSCs)
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 6
IAMSAR VOLUME 3– Mobile Facilities
Purpose
Help ships and planes deal with their own
emergency situations as well as search and
rescue operations in general
Primary User
Rescue units, civil aircraft, and vessels
“ All ships shall carry an up-to-date copy of
Volume III of the International Aeronautical and
Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual”.
(SOLAS § Regulation 21 - 2)
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Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 8
DEFINITIONS
Search and Rescue Region (SRR)
An area of defined dimensions, associated with a rescue coordination
center (RCC), within which search and rescue services are provided.
(SRR) Purpose:
✓SRRs help to define who has primary responsibility for coordinating
responses to distress situations in every area of the world
✓The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional air navigation
plans (RANPs) describe aeronautical SRRs.
✓The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Global SAR Plan describes
maritime SRRs.
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 9
DEFINITIONS
Search and rescue sub-region (SRS)
A specified area within a search and rescue region(SRR) associated with a
rescue sub-center(RSC).
(SRS) Purpose:
✓If the communication facilities in a part of an SRR are not enough for
coordination between the RCC and SAR facilities;
✓If the SRR includes a number of States or territorial divisions of a State in
which, for political or administrative reasons, local facilities can only be directed
and controlled through local authorities
✓ If local control of SAR operations will be more effective
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 10
DEFINITIONS
Rescue coordination center (RCC)
A unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of search and rescue
services and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within
a search and rescue region (SRR).
✓Aeronautical SAR responsibility may be met by means of an aeronautical RCC
(ARCC).
✓ Maritime SAR responsibility may be met by means of a maritime RCC (MRCC)
A
** coastal State may have an MRCC but not be able to be provided with an ARCC. In
such a case, the SAR manager should arrange a suitable organizational relationship to provide
the MRCC with aeronautical advice.
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 11
DEFINITIONS
Joint rescue coordination center (JRCC)
A rescue coordination center responsible for both aeronautical and
maritime search and rescue incidents.
(JRCC) Benefits include:
✓fewer facilities to establish or maintain;
✓reduced cost;
✓less complexity in forwarding distress alerts; and
✓better coordination and sharing of SAR expertise.
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 12
DEFINITIONS
Rescue sub-center (RSC)
unit subordinate to a rescue coordination center(RCC) established to
complement the latter according to particular provisions of the responsible
authorities.
✓An aeronautical RSC (ARSC) can be established for aeronautical SAR incidents.
✓A maritime RSC (MRSC) for maritime SAR incidents.
**RSCs typically have fewer responsibilities and capabilities than their associated RCC and their
requirements in personnel, equipment, and accommodations are usually smaller.
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SAR System Overview
[Link]
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What is the SAR System Functions?
Receive, acknowledge, and relay
notifications of distress
Co-ordinate SAR response
Conduct SAR operations
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What is the SAR System general Coordination levels?
THREE General Coordination Levels for the SAR systems
SAR coordinators
(SCs)
SAR mission coordinators
(SMCs)
On scene coordinators
(OSCs) (IAMSAR Vol. I - 1.5.14)
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DEFINITIONS
Search and rescue coordinator (SC)
One or more persons or agencies within an Administration with overall
responsibility for establishing and providing SAR services and ensuring that
planning for those services is properly coordinated.
(SCs) H ave the overall responsibility for:
✓establishing, staffing, equipping, and managing the SAR system
✓establishing (RCCs) and rescue sub-centers (RSCs)
✓providing or arranging for SAR facilities
✓coordinating SAR training
✓developing SAR policies.
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What are the Basic requirements for developing an
effective SAR system?
➢legal establishment for SAR services ;
➢arrangements for use of all available resources, and availability of other
resources as needed;
➢establishing geographic areas of responsibility with associated RCCs and RSCs;
➢staffing, training, and other personnel support to manage and operate the
system;
➢adequate and functioning communications capabilities; and
➢agreements, plans, and related documents, to achieve goals and define working
relationships.
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DEFINITIONS
Search and rescue mission coordinator (SMC)
The official temporarily assigned to coordinate response to an actual or apparent
distress situation.
(SMC) A ssigned only for the duration of a specific SAR incident and should be:
✓well trained in all SAR processes
✓familiar with the applicable SAR plans
✓gather information about distress situations
✓develop accurate and workable SAR action plans
✓dispatch and coordinate the resources to carry out SAR missions
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 19
DEFINITIONS
(SMC) Duties include:
✓obtain and evaluate all data on the emergency
✓if necessary, ascertain movements and locations of vessels and alert
shipping in likely search areas for rescue, lookout, and/or radio watch
✓plot the areas to search and decide on methods and facilities to be used
✓coordinate the operation with adjacent RCCs when appropriate
✓evaluate all reports and modify action plans as necessary
✓issue progress reports
✓determine when to suspend or terminate the search
✓release SAR facilities when assistance is no longer required
✓prepare a final report.
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SAR System Managers must
understand…
✓the fundamentals of the system they are
managing;
✓ their own basic responsibilities and
functions;
✓ key types of SAR plans and planning
processes; and
✓ how to begin with available resources and
economically improve the system
Captain - Ibrahem Elsemsar Term 7 21
DEFINITIONS
On-scene coordinator (OSC)
A person designated to coordinate search and rescue operations within a
specified area.
The person in charge of the first facility to arrive at the scene will normally
assume the OSC function until the SMC arranges for that person to be relieved.
The (SMC) designates an (OSC), who may be the person in charge of a:
✓Search and rescue unit (SRU), ship, or aircraft participating in a search, or
✓Nearby facility in a position to handle OSC duties.
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What is the Global SAR Concept?
➢An effective worldwide system, so that wherever people sail or fly, SAR services
will be available if needed.
…..BY…..
➢Develop regional systems for each ocean area and continent.
…..TO…..
➢Eliminate the need for each State to provide SAR services for its own citizens
wherever they travel worldwide,
….Instead….
➢Globe is divided into SRRs, each with associated SAR services which assist
anyone in distress within the SRR without regard to nationality or circumstances.
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National and Regional Systems
➢SAR systems can be established on a national or regional level, or both.
➢Both systems involve the establishment of one or more SRRs, along with capabilities
to receive alerts, and to coordinate and conduct SAR services within each SRR via
an RCC.
➢Each SRR needs an RCC, but each State does not necessarily need an SRR if one RCC
can be supported by and serve more than one State, especially in ocean areas. In such
cases, each State may establish an RSC.
Benefits of the regional approach can be:
✓Reduce cost
✓Improve the distribution of distress alerts, coverage, and services.
✓States can sometimes support each other with SRUs to reduce the total number of
units needed for adequate coverage and readiness.
✓ Training and other types of resources can be shared for everyone’s benefit.
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