Vhf communications in sar operations

Adapted from P. Trenkner: Search and Rescue Operations, Rostock 1989

Example 1: Preparing for SAR Operations

Vessel in distress: MV ‘LIST’.

MV "ORADA" was on the way from Antwerp to New Orleans when a distress alert was released by the autoalarm. Several minutes later the watchkeeping officer received the following distress message on MF:

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is MV LIST/5LAC, MV LIST/5LAC. Mayday. Position 37.15 N 43.20 W. Explosion in hold No. 3. Ship developed a leak and is sinking. Have 2 lifeboats and 1 liferaft. Require immediate assistance. Over.

M.v. "ORADA", which was in position 37.38 N 42.31 W, acknowledged the distress message, altered her course and proceeded at a speed of 18 knots to the distressed ship immediately. She expected to reach the vessel at 15.00 hrs UTC, two and a half hours after receiving the distress alert.

Three other vessels also acknowledged the distress alert from the sinking ship and altered their courses to proceed to the scene of distress.

Motor vessel "TUNA" had a speed of 16 knots. Her ETA was 16.00 hrs UTC.

Motor vessel "DOLPHIN" expected to reach the distressed ship at 16.30 hrs UTC. She had only a speed of 14 knots.

Steamship "BRANCIN" was the nearest to the scene of disaster but, having a speed of 12 knots, she expected to reach the distress position only by 16.45 hrs UTC.

These four ships picked up the next and the last distress message from the motor vessel "LIST" which read as follows:

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. This is LIST/5LAC. position 37.15 N 43.20 W.

Mayday. I am sinking. 2 lifeboats and 1 liferaft lowered. Number of crew 25.

Have portable emergency station available.

Standing by on channel 1-6. Over.

MV "ORADA" acknowledged this message as follows:

Mayday. LIST/5LAC. This is MV ORADA TR6U. Mayday received. Advise you use drift anchor to keep position. I am taking over the duties of co-ordinator surface search according to IAMSAR. Over.

Since this message was not acknowledged by "LIST", the motor vessel "ORADA" sends the following message:

Mayday relay, Mayday relay, Mayday relay. This is ‘ORADA’ TR6U.

Following received from MV LIST/5LAC: Time: 16.35 UTC: Mayday. This is MV LIST/5LAC. Position 37.15 N 43.20 W. Explosion in hold No. 3. Ship developed a leak and is sinking. Have 2 lifeboats and 1 liferaft. Require immediate assistance. Please acknowledge.

This is ‘ORADA

Over

Three other vessels declared their readiness to take part in search and rescue and accepted the MV "ORADA" as Co-ordinator of Surface Search (or On-Scene Commander, OSC).

All necessary preparations for search and rescue were made.

Lifeboats were cleared for lowering, boat ladders, ropes and net slings were rigged and crew members kept a sharp lookout.

Continuous listening watch was kept but no further message was received neither from the wreck nor from the lifeboats or the raft.

Example 2: On-Scene SAR communication exchanges:

(adapted from P. Trenkner: Search and Rescue Operations, Rostock 1989

CSS Co-ordinator Surface Search (or OSC)

Ship in distress: sailing yacht SAGENA

Ships engaged on the scene of SAR operations:

MV “Manta Ray” (MR)

MV “Sushi” (SU)

MV “Hake” (HK)

CSS: Mayday. All ships in vicinity.

This is MV “Mullet"/PPAL, MV “Mullet"/PPAL, MV “Mullet"/PPAL.

I arrived at the position of distress.

No lifeboats or other appliances of sailing yacht "Sagena" sighted.

We start search according to pattern one IAMSAR Manual.

Datum is marked by a floating working raft with orange smoke buoy.

Wind force is 5 from NNW, sea is rough and a swell of force 3 is coming from W.

Listen please stand by on 2182 kHz for further information.

Over.

MR: Mayday "Mullet"/PPAL. This is MV. "Manta Ray"/6 AAK on channel 1-6.

Message understood. Over.

CSS: Mayday "Manta Ray"/6 AAK. This is m.v. "Mullet"/PPAL.

Assistance has been offered by two other ships.

These are MV "Hake"/FZAP and MV "Sushi"/TFFC.

I have assumed the duty of CSS. Over.

MR: Mayday "Mullet". This is "Manta Ray". Message received. I am

waiting for your instructions. Over.

CSS: Mayday to all ships engaged in SAR for sailing yacht "Sagena" This is MV "Mullet", Co-ordinator Surface Search.

We will proceed according to Search Pattern 4 of IAMSAR.

We will begin at 1645 hours UTC.

Initial course will be 121 degrees, search speed 10 knots,

starting eight miles NNW of datum.

Your directions are as follows:

Hake: Track 4, initial position 2614 N 3220 W

Sushi: Track 1, initial position 2616 N 3227 W

Mullet: Track 2, initial position 2618 N 3224 W

Manta Ray: Track 3, initial position 2620 N 3221 W

Please switch to channel 1-9 and repeat starting time,

initial course, initial speed, track number and initial

position. Over.

SU Mayday CSS "Mullet". This is m.v. "Sushi". Repetition of

directions: Begin 1645 hours utc, course 121 degrees, speed

10 knots, I follow track no. 1, initial position 2616 N 3227 W -

over.

HK: Mayday. MV "Mullet". This is MV. "Hake". I repeat:

start 1745 hours, correction 1645 hours UTC. Course 121 degrees,

speed 10 knots. My track is no. 4, initial position 2614 N 3232 W. Over.

MR: Mayday CSS. This is MV "Manta Ray". I repeat your orders:

start at 1645 hours, course 121, speed 10 knots, track for me is

no. 3, starting position 2620 N 3221 W. Over.

HK: Mayday. CSS "Mullet". This is MV "Hake". I have sighted two life-rafts with

survivors on board, number unknown so far. Bearing 273 degrees, distance

approximately 3.5 miles. Over.

CSS: Mayday all SAR ships. This is CSS "Mullet".

M.V. "Hake" has sighted survivors.

Instruction: proceed to position 2607 N 3231W.

"Hake", please prepare to pick up survivors and report back

within 30 minutes. Over.

HK: Mayday CSS "Mullet". This is "Hake". I will pick up all the

seven survivors. Doctor or medical assistance is not required. Over.

CSS: Mayday all SAR ships. This is MV "Mullet". SAR for sailing

yacht "Sagena” finished. All crew in on board MV "Hake" which

is bound to Brest. France.

You may proceed, thanks for your assistance. Silence fini. Out.

4.4

Search and Rescue (SAR) in Canada

Rescue Co-ordination and Alerting

Rescue Co-ordination Centres and Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres

The Canadian Coast Guard jointly staffs three Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) with the Canadian Forces. The RCCs are located at Victoria, British Columbia, Trenton, Ontario, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Canadian Coast Guard also operates two Maritime Rescue Sub-Centres (MRSCs) at Quebec City, Quebec, and St. John's, Newfoundland. The function of a MRSC is to reduce the RCC's workload in areas of high marine activity. These centres are staffed by SAR Co-ordinators who operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. The maritime area for which the Canadian RCCs/MRSCs are collectively responsible for is more than 5.3 million square kilometres.

The RCCs/MRSCs are responsible for the planning, co-ordination, conduct and control of SAR operations. RCCs/MRSCs have highly trained staff, detailed operational plans and an effective communications system. Once an RCC/MRSC is notified that a person(s) is in danger, the SAR Co-ordinator begins to organize the rescue. All available information about the person(s) in danger is gathered and recorded and the positions of potential assisting resources in the area of the incident are determined. SAR Co-ordinators are trained to evaluate various situations and send the most effective resources to deal with a particular incident. In complex and major incidents, many resources are often sent or tasked to assist.

On-Scene Co-ordinator

In large searches involving many resources, an On-Scene Co-ordinator (OSC) for the incident may be chosen by the SAR Co-ordinator. The OSC is the local contact for the SAR Co-ordinator. The OSC gives direction to the resources involved on where and how to search and regularly reports progress. The OSC is usually the Commanding Officer of a government vessel with an experienced crew.

Rescue Alerting, Detection and Communications

Visual, audible and electronic methods are used by vessels to indicate distress. Visual methods include items such as distress flares and international signal flags. Audible methods include whistles and horns. Electronic methods include radios and beacons. The following are a few highlights.

For IMO recommended communications see SMCP 2001 and ITU International Code of Signals (ICS).

The most useful www site can be found at: IMLA INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ENGLISH CONFERENCE (IMEC), formerly WOME: http://home.planet.nl/~kluijven/

LES 105 - MSG 2380 - SAR Distress Call to Area: 40 N 19 E 100 - NoPos FM MRCC ROME TO ALL SHIPS IN IONIAN SEA BT UNCLAS IN POSITION 39 34N - 018 37E HAS BEEN RESCUED SIX ALIVE CASTAWAYS AND SIX DEAD BODIES. OTHERS MISSING PERSONS ARE PRESUMED LOST AT SEA. SAR OPERATION UNDERWAY IN AREA. ALL SHIPS TRANSITING THE AREA ARE REQUESTED TO KEEP A SHARP LOOKOUT REPORTING ANY SIGHT TO MRCC ROME AT FOLLOWING NUMBER : PHONE 0039 06 5924145 - 5908409 - 59084527 FAX 0039 06 5922737 - 59084793 TELEX 43 611172 -.614156 BT ++++