It is a good practice to log all radio transmissions to and from your station. Also, writing down messages before you send them ensures that all information gets transmitted correctly.

SITREPS:

The following information should be included in SITREPS to RCC(MRCC):

• case number or description of case

• number of the situation report (e.g. first, second, seventh, etc.)

• current date and time

• present status – all details, including weather conditions

• actions taken: all search patterns and movements

• future action includes all items that will have impact on the future; any request for air support

• signature and vessel name

DATUM

This term refers to the most probable location of the distressed vessel, corrected for drift over a given period of time. It may be a point, line or an area.

TRACK SPACING

Most search patterns consist of parallel tracks or sweeps covering a rectangular area. The distance between adjacent tracks ic called the track spacing.

SEARCH PATTERNS

The search pattern is decided by the RCC/MRCC in accordance with IAMSAR Manual, formerly MERSAR.

The following search patterns are recommended in IAMSAR Manual:

1. expanding square search (SS)

2. sector search (VS)

3. track line search (TS)

4. parallel sweep search (PS)

5. contour search (OS)

6. co-ordinated vessel-aircraft search pattern

MANOEUVRING INSTRUCTIONS: (IAMSAR p. 3-36/37)***

4.2

IMO SMCP 2001 – Recommended phrases for SAR operations:

A1/1.2 Search and Rescue communications

.1 SAR communications (specifying or supplementary to A1/1.1)

.2 Acknowledgement and / or relay of SAR messages

.3 Performing / co‑ordinating SAR operations

.4 Finishing with SAR operations

B2/6.5 Rescue activities

GLOSSARY:

Search pattern A pattern according to which vessels and/or aircraft may conduct a co‑ordinated search (the IMOSAR offers seven search patterns)

A1/1.2 Search and Rescue communication

.1 SAR communications (specifying or supplementary to 1.1)

. 1 I require / MV ... requires assistance.

. 2 I am / MV ... proceeding to your assistance.

. 3 What is your MMSI number?

. 3.1 My MMSI number is …. .

. 4 What is your position?

. 4.1 My position ... .

. 5 What is your present course and speed?

. 5.1 My present course ... degrees, my speed ... knots.

. 6 Report number of persons on board.

. 6.1 Number of persons on board: ... .

. 7 Report injured persons.

. 7.1 No person injured

. 7.2 Number of injured persons / casualties: ... .

. 8 Will you abandon vessel?

. 8.1 I will not abandon vessel.

. 8.2 I will abandon vessel at ... UTC.

. 9 Is your EPIRB/SART transmitting?

. 9.1 Yes, my EPIRB/SART is transmitting.

. 9.2 Yes, my EPIRB/SART is transmitting by mistake.

.10 Did you transmit a DSC distress alert?

.10.1 Yes, I transmitted a DSC alert.

.10.2 Yes, I transmitted a DSC alert by mistake.

.11 How many lifeboats / liferafts (with how many persons) will you launch?

.11.1 I will launch ... lifeboats / liferafts (with ... persons).

.12 How many persons will stay on board?

.12.1 No person will stay on board.

.12.2 ... persons will stay on board.

.13 What is the weather situation in your position?

.13.1 Wind ...( cardinal points) force Beaufort ... .

.13.2 Visibility good/moderate/poor.

.13.3 Smooth/moderate/rough/high sea / slight/moderate/heavy swell …(cardinal points).

.13.4 Current ... knots, to …(cardinal points).

.14 Are there dangers to navigation?

.14.1 No dangers to navigation.

.14.2 Warning! Uncharted rocks / ice / abnormally low tides / mines / ... .

.2 Acknowledgement and / or relay of SAR messages

. 1 Received MAYDAY from MV ... at UTC on VHF Channel.../ frequency ....

. 2 Vessel in position ...

~ on fire

~ had explosion.

~ flooded.

~ in collision (with .. ).

~ listing / in danger of capsizing.

~ sinking.

~ disabled and adrift.

~ abandoned / ... .

. 3 Vessel requires assistance.

. 4 Received your MAYDAY.

. 4.1 My position ... .

. 4.2 I / MV ... will proceed to your assistance.

. 4.3 ETA at distress position within ... hours / at ... UTC.

.3 Performing / co‑ordinating SAR operations

The questions are normally asked and advice given by the On-scene Co‑ordinator (OSC).

For further information see IAMSAR Manual, London/Montreal,1998.

. 1 I will act as On-scene Co‑ordinator.

. 1.1 I will show following signals / lights: ... .

. 2 Can you proceed to distress position?

. 2.1 Yes, I can proceed to distress position.

. 2.2 No, I cannot proceed to distress position.

. 3 What is your ETA at distress position?

. 3.1 My ETA at distress position within ... hours / at ... UTC.

. 4 MAYDAY position is not correct.

. 4.1 Correct MAYDAY position is ... .

. 5 Vessels are advised to proceed to position ... to start rescue.

. 6 Carry out search pattern ... starting at ... UTC.

. 7 Initial course ... degrees, search speed ... knots.

. 8 Carry out radar search.

. 9 MV ... allocated track number ... .

.10 MV / MVs ... adjust interval between vessels to ...kilometres / nautical miles.

.11 Adjust track spacing to ...kilometres / nautical miles.

.12 Search speed now ... knots.

.13 Alter course

~ to ... degrees (- at ... UTC).

~ for next leg of track now / at ... UTC.

.14 We resume search in position ... .

.15 Crew has abandoned vessel / MV ... .

.16 Keep sharp lookout for lifeboats / liferafts / persons in water / ... .

.4 Finishing with SAR operations

.1 What is the result of search?

.1.1 The result of search is negative.

.2 Sighted

~ vessel in position ... .

~ lifeboats / life rafts in position ... .

~ persons in water / ... in position ... .

.3 Continue search in position ... .

.4 Can you pick up survivors?

.4.1 Yes, I can pick up survivors.

.4.2 No, I cannot pick up survivors.

.5 MV ... / I will proceed to pick up survivors.

.5.1 Stand by lifeboats / liferafts.

.6 Picked up

~ ... survivors in position ... .

~ ... lifeboats / liferafts (with ... persons / casualties) in position ... .

~ ... persons / casualties in lifejackets in position ... .

~ ... in position ... .

.7 Survivors in bad / good condition.

.8 Do you require medical assistance?

.8.1 Yes, I require medical assistance.

.8.2 No, I do not require medical assistance.

.9 Try to obtain information from survivors.

.10 There are

~ still ... lifeboats / liferafts with survivors.

~ no more lifeboats / liferafts.

.11 Total number of persons on board was ... .

.12 All persons / ... persons rescued.

.13 You / MV ... may stop search and proceed with voyage.

.14 There is no hope to rescue more persons.

.15 We finish with SAR operations.

B2/6 Search and rescue on-board activities

For details see also IAMSAR Manual, London/Montreal, 1998.

B2/6.1 Checking equipment status

.1 Check the lifebuoys and report.

.1.1 All lifebuoys are complete.

.1.2 Lifebuoy(s) at ... is / are damaged / missing.

.1.2.1 Replace the damaged / missing lifebuoy(s).

.2 When was the last man overboard drill ?

.2.1 Last man overboard drill was on ...(date) .

.3 Prepare a plan for man overboard drill.

.3.1 Prepare a plan for

~ an announced / not announced drill.

~ a daytime / nighttime drill.

~ a muster (at all stations).

~ a recovering manoeuvre (with dummy / buoy).

.4 Have a drill / manoeuvre / muster on ...(date) .

B2/6.2 Person-overboard activities

.1 Man overboard (on port side / starboard side / astern)!

.2 Drop lifebuoy(s).

.2.1 Sound "man overboard" alarm.

.3 Hoist flag signal "Oscar".

.4 Hard-a-port / hard-a-starboard the wheel.

.5 Is person in water / lifebuoy located ?

.5.1 Yes, person in water / lifebuoy located.

.5.2 Report direction and distance of person in water / lifebuoy.

.5.2.1 Direction at ... points port side / starboard side / ... degrees, distance ...

metres.

.5.2.2 Maintain visual contact to person in water / lifebuoy.

.5.3 No, person in water / lifebuoy not located (yet).

.5.3.1 Look out for person in water / lifebuoy and report.

.5.4 Passenger / crew member missing (for ... hours / since ... UTC)

- search in vessel negative.

.5.4.1 Stop engine(s).

.5.4.2 Transmit alarm signal - PAN-PAN / distress alert - MAYDAY to radio coast station / Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre / vessels in vicinity and report.

.5.4.3 Alarm signal - PAN-PAN / distress alert - MAYDAY transmitted /

acknowledged by ... / not acknowledged (yet)..

.6 Return manoeuvre ! Port / starboard, steer... degrees.

.7 Report position.

.7.1 Position ... .

.8 Report traffic situation.

.8.1 No vessel in vicinity.

.8.2 Following vessel(s) in vicinity ... .

.9 Report weather situation.

.9.1 Sea smooth/moderate/rough/high – swell slight/moderate/heavy from .. (cardinal points).

.9.2 Winds force Beaufort... from ... (cardinal points).

.9.3 Visibility good/moderate/poor.

.9.4 Current ... knots to ... (cardinal points).

.10 Have man overboard stations / lookouts at ... manned and report.

.10.1 Man overboard stations / lookouts at ... manned.

.11 Stand by for recovering from shipboard and report.

.11.1 Standing by for recovering from shipboard.

.12 Stand by boat / motor lifeboat no. ... for letting go and report.

.12.1 Rescue boat / motor lifeboat no. ... standing by for letting go.

.13 Let go rescue boat / motor lifeboat.

.14 Use VHF Channel ... / frequency ... for communication.

.14.1 Use light signals / flag signals / whistle for communication.

.15 What is retreat signal for rescue boat / motor lifeboat ?

.15.1 Retreat signal ... .

.16 Stand by one / two crew member(s) for rescue in water and report.

.16.1 One / two crew member(s) standing by for rescue in water.

.17 Person overboard rescued / recovered.

.18 Stand by boat / rescue litter / rescue net / rescue basket / rescue sling and

report.

.18.1 Boat / rescue litter / rescue net / rescue basket / rescue sling standing by.

.19 Hoist person and report.

.20 Report condition of survivor.

.20.1 Survivor

~ is in good / bad condition.

~ has hypothermia.

~ is injured.

~ is suffering from shock.

.20.2 Person is dead.

B2/6.3 Rescue operation - reporting readiness for assistance

See also A1/1.2 "Search and rescue communications"

.1 Received an alarm signal / PAN-PAN /

distress alert - MAYDAY at ... UTC on ... (VHF Channel/frequency).

.2 Observed the following distress signal in ... degrees.

.3 Report the distress position.

.3.1 Distress position ... .

.4 Was the alarm signal / PAN-PAN / distress alert - MAYDAY acknowledged?

.4.1 The alarm signal / PAN-PAN / distress alert - MAYDAY was acknowledged by ... / not acknowledged (yet)..

.4.2.1 Acknowledge the PAN-PAN / distress alert - MAYDAY - RELAY.

.4.3 Transmit a MAYDAY - RELAY to ... (radio station).

.5 Watch the radar.

.6 Have the lookouts manned and report.

.6.1 Lookouts are manned.

.7 Contact vessels in vicinity of the distress and report.

.7.1 We have contact to following vessel(s) in vicinity of the distress: .... .

.7.2 We have no contact (yet).

.8 Request information from the vessel in distress and report.

.8.1 We have following information from the vessel in distress: ... .

.8.2 We have no information (yet).

.9 Stand by lines / lifebuoys / nets / derricks / cranes / ... and report.

.9.1 Lines / lifeboats / nets / derricks / cranes / ... standing by.

.10 Stand by lifeboats / rescue boat and report.

.10.1 Lifeboats / rescue boat standing by.

.11 Stand by liferaft(s) as boarding station(s) and report.

.11.1 Liferaft(s) standing by as boarding station(s).

.11.2 Let go liferaft(s) as boarding station(s) with ... crew members (each).

.13 Stand by ... crew members for assisting survivors in water and report.

.13.1 ... crew members standing by for assisting survivors in water.

.14 Switch on the deck lighting / outboard lighting / search lights.

.15 Stand by line throwing apparatus and report.

.15.1 Line throwing apparatus standing by.

B2/6.4 Conducting search

.1 We / MV ... will act as On-scene Co-ordinator.

.1.2 Inform radio coast station(s) / MRCC/ vessels in vicinity.

.2 Stand by bridge team / lookouts for information / signals of On-scene Co-ordinator.

.2.1 Following information / signal received from On-scene Co-ordinator:

.3 We carry out search pattern ... / radar search.

.3.1 We start search pattern ... radar search at ... UTC.

.3.1.1 Inform the crew / lookouts / engine room.

.4 Bridge team / lookouts !

Keep sharp lookout for signals / sightings of the vessel in distress and report

every ... minutes.

.4.1 Light signals / smoke signals / sound signals / ... signals in ... degrees.

.4.2 Objects / vessel in distress / lifeboat(s) / life raft(s) / person(s) in water

in ... degrees

.5 Stand by rescue team / boat crews / engine room and report.

.5.1 Rescue team / boat crews / engine room standing by.

.6 Transmit the following information / signals to the searching vessel(s): ... .

B2/6.5 Rescue activities

See also B2/6.2 "Person-overboard activities"

.1 Rescue persons in following order:

- persons in water

- injured / helpless persons

- women and children

- passengers

- crew/members.

.2 Ask the survivor(s) the following information:

.2.1 What was the total number of persons on board the vessel in distress ?

.2.1.1 Total number of persons was: ... .

.2.2 What was the number of casualties ?

.2.2.1 Number of casualties was: ... .

.2.3 What was the number of lifeboats / liferafts launched ?

.2.3.1 Number of lifeboats / liferafts launched was: ... .

.2.4 What was the number of persons in lifeboats / liferafts ?

.2.4.1 Number of persons in lifeboats / liferafts was: ... .

.2.5 What was the number of persons in water ?

.2.5.1 Number of persons in water was: ... .

.3 Inform ... coast radio station about the name(s) / call sign(s) and destination

of the vessel(s) with the survivors.

.3.1 Inform about the number of survivors on (each) vessel.

.3.2 Inform about the condition of the survivors.

.4 Inform ... coast radio station about the condition of the vessel in distress:

.4.1 The vessel in distress

~ capsized / sunk / adrift (near position ... ) / drifting in ... degrees.

~ grounded (in position: ...).

~ on fire.

~ not under command.

.5 Transmit the following safety message / navigational warning:

Vessel in distress (in position ...) danger to navigation.

B2/6.6 Finishing with search and rescue operations

.1 Search and rescue finished at ... UTC.

.1.1 Inform the crew / lookouts / engine room.

.2 We resume on-board routine at ... UTC.

.3 Inform the coast radio station / searching vessels

about the cancellation of search and rescue.

.4 We proceed with our voyage.

4.3

Examples of SAR communications: