IAMSAR

(International Aeronautial Maritime Search and Rescue)

The Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization.
Purpose:
The purpose of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and
Rescue Manual for Mobile Facilities, which is intended for carriage on board
search and rescue units, and on board civil aircraft and vessels, is to provide
guidance to those who:
• operate aircraft, vessels or other craft, and who may be called upon to use
the facility to support SAR operations
• may need to perform on-scene coordinator functions for multiple facilities in
the vicinity of a distress situation
• experience actual or potential emergencies, and may require search and
rescue (SAR) assistance
CONTENTS of the IAMSAR Manual (Vol 3)
Section 1: Overview
Section 2: Rendering Assistance
Section 3: On-Scene Co-ordination
Section 4: On-Board Emergencies
Section 5- Multiple aircraft SAR
Appendix A: Regulation V/33 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea,
1974, as amended.
Appendix B: Search Action Message B-1
Appendix C: Factors Affecting Observer Effectiveness C-1
Appendix D: Standard Format for Search and Rescue Situation Report (SITREP) D-1
Appendix E: SAR Briefing and Debriefing Form E-1
Appendix F: Own emergency.
Appendix G: Rendering assistance
Appendix H: Multiple aircraft SAR operations

IAMSAR MANUALS
IAMSAR, jointly published by IMO & ICAO, comes in three (3) volumes each written with
specific SAR duties in mind.
Carriage of IAMSAR Volume 3 is compulsory for vessels from 1
January 2004
 Vol 1 – Organisation and Management Volume - discusses the global SAR system concept,
establishment of national and regional SAR systems and co-operation with neighbouring
states to provide effective and economical SAR services.
VOL II – Mission Co-ordination Volume - assists personnel who plan and co-ordinate SAR
operations
VOL III – Mobile Facilities - is intended to be carried aboard rescue units, aircraft, and
vessels to help in performance of search, rescue or on-scene co-ordinator functions.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO ASSIST (Reg. V/33 of SOLAS).
The responsibilities to render assistance to a distressed vessel or aircraft are based on
humanitarian considerations and established international practice.
Ship masters are obligated to assist others in distress at sea whenever they can safely do so.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SAR SYSTEM ORGANIZATION

To carry out these responsibilities, States have established national SAR organizations, or
joined one or more other States to form a regional SAR organization associated with an
ocean area or continent.
A search and rescue region (SRR) is an area of defined dimensions associated with a
rescue co-ordination centre (RCC) within which SAR services are provided.
• SRRs help to define who has primary responsibility for co-ordinating responses to
distress situations in every area of the world, but they are not intended to restrict anyone
from assisting persons in distress
• the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regional air navigation plans (RANPs)
depict aeronautical SRRs.
• the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Global SAR Plan depicts maritime SRRs

A rescue coordination centre (RCC) is a primary search and rescue facility in a country
that is staffed by supervisory personnel and equipped for coordinating and controlling
search and rescue operations. RCC's are responsible for a geographic area, known as a
"search and rescue region of responsibility" (SRR). SRR's are designated by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
• RCC's are operated unilaterally by personnel of a single military service (e.g. an Air Force, or
a Navy) or a single civilian service (e.g. a national Police force, or a Coast Guard).
• A Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre or MRSC is a special type of RCC dedicated exclusively to
organizing search and rescue in a maritime environment. A MRSC usually is subservient to a
RCC and is used to take the workload for a particular geographic area within the SRR.
• A JointRescue Coordination Centre or JRCC is a special type of RCC that is operated by
personnel from multiple military services, civilian services, or a combination of military
and/or civilian services.

The SAR system has three levels of co-ordination:

1 - SAR Co-ordinators (SCs)
 SCs are the top level SAR managers; each State normally will have one or more persons or
agencies for which this designation may be appropriate. SCs have the overall responsibility
for:
• establishing, staffing, equipping and managing the SAR system
• establishing RCCs and rescue sub-centres (RSCs)
• providing or arranging for SAR facilities
• co-ordinating SAR training and drills
• developing SAR policies.
2 – SAR Mission Co-ordinators (SMCs)
• Each SAR operation is carried out under the guidance of an SMC. This function exists only
for the duration of a specific SAR incident and is normally performed by the RCC chief or a
person designate. SMC may have assisting staff.
• The SMC guides a SAR operation until a rescue has been effected or it becomes
apparentthat further efforts would be of no avail.
• The SMC should be well trained in all SAR processes, be thoroughly familiar with the
applicable SAR plans, and: -
- gather information about distress situations

- develop accurate and workable SAR action plans

- dispatch and co-ordinate the resources to carry out SAR missions.

Duties of SMC
• obtain and evaluate all data on the emergency
• ascertain the type of emergency equipment carried by the missing or distressed craft
• remain informed of prevailing environmental conditions
• 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
• develop the search action plan and rescue action plan as appropriate
• co-ordinate the operation with adjacent RCCs when appropriate
• arrange briefing and debriefing of SAR personnel
• evaluate all reports and modify search action plan as necessary
• arrange for refuelling of aircraft and, for prolonged search, make arrangements for the
accommodation of SAR personnel.
• arrange for delivery of supplies to sustain survivors.
• maintain in chronological order an accurate and up-to-date record
• issue progress reports
• recommend to the RCC chief the abandoning or suspending of the search.
• release SAR facilities when assistance is no longer required
• notify accident investigation authorities
• if applicable, notify the State of registry of the aircraft.
• prepare a final report.

3 – On Scene Co-ordinators (OSCs)

When two or more SAR facilities are working together on the same mission, one person on-
scene may be needed to co-ordinate the activities of all participating facilities.
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
- 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.

Duties of OSC:
 Co-ordinate operations of all SAR facilities on-scene.
 Receive the search action plan or rescue plan from the SMC or plan the search or
rescue operation, if no plan is otherwise available. (See Planning and Conducting the
Search in this section.)
 Modify the search action or rescue action plan as the situation on scene dictates,
keeping the SMC advised (do in consultation with the SMC when practicable).
 Co-ordinate on-scene communications.
 Monitor the performance of other participating facilities.
 Ensure operations are conducted safely, paying particular attention to maintaining
safe separations among all facilities, both surface and air.
 Make periodic situation reports (SITREPs) to the SMC. The standard SITREP format
may be found in appendix D. SITREPs should include but not be limited to:
• weather and sea conditions
• the results of search to date
• any actions taken
• any future plans or recommendations.
• maintain a detailed record of the operation:
• on-scene arrival and departure times of SAR facilities, other vessels and aircraft
engaged in the operation areas searched
• track spacing used
• sightings and leads reported
• results obtained
 Advise the SMC to release facilities no longer required.
 Report the number and names of survivors to the SMC.
  Provide the SMC with the names and designations of facilities with survivors aboard.
 Report which survivors are in each facility.
 Request additional SMC assistance when necessary (for example, medical evacuation
of seriously injured survivors).

Rendering Assistance
Initial Action by Assisting Craft Vessels Assisting
Methods of Distress Notification
• An alarm signal or a distress call from another vessel at sea, either directly or by relay.
• A distress call or message from aircraft. This usually occurs by relay from a CRS (coast radio
station).
• Alert sent from a vessel's alerting equipment and then relayed shore to - ship.
• Visual signals or sound signals from a nearby distressed craft.
Immediate Action
The following immediate action should be taken by any ship receiving a distress message:
• acknowledge receipt of message.
• gather the following information from the craft in distress if possible:
- position of distressed craft
- distressed craft's identity, call sign, and name
- number of persons on board.
- nature of the distress or casualty
- type of assistance required
- number of victims, if any
- distressed craft's course and speed
- type of craft, and cargo carried
- any other pertinent information that might facilitate the rescue.
- maintain a continuous watch on the following international frequencies, if equipped to do
so: 500 kHz (radiotelegraphy), 2182 kHz (radiotelephony), 156.8 MHz FM (Channel 16,
radiotelephony) for vessel distress 121.5 MHz AM (radiotelephony) for aircraft distress.

The following information should be communicated to the distressed craft:

• own vessel's identity, call sign, and name
• own vessel's position
• own vessel's speed and estimated time of arrival (ETA) to distressed craft site
• distressed craft's true bearing and distance from ship.
• Use all available means to remain aware of the location of distressed craft (such as radar
plotting, chart plots, Global Positioning System).
• When in close proximity, post extra look-outs to keep distressed craft in sight.
• The ship or CRS co-ordinating distress traffic should establish contact with the SMC and
pass on all available information, updating as necessary.
Proceeding to the Area of Distress
• Establish a traffic co-ordinating system among vessels proceeding to the same area of
distress.
• Maintain active radar plots on vessels in the general vicinity.
• Estimate the ETAs to the distress site of other assisting vessels.
• Assess-the distress situation to prepare for operations on-scene.

On-Board Preparation While Enroute:

A vessel en-route to assist a distressed craft should have the following equipment ready for
possible use:
Life-saving and rescue equipment:
• lifeboat • inflatable life raft • lifejackets • survival suits for the crew • lifebuoys • breeches
buoys • portable VHF radios for communication with the ship and boats deployed • line-
throwing apparatus • buoyant lifelines • hauling lines • non-sparking boat hooks or
grappling hooks • hatchets • rescue baskets • litters • pilot ladders • scrambling nets •
copies of the International Code of Signals • radio equipment operating on MF/HF and/or
VHF/UHF and capable of communicating with the SMC and rescue facilities, and with a
facility for direction finding (DF) • supplies and survival equipment, as required • fire-
fighting equipment • portable ejector pumps • binoculars • cameras • bailers and oars.
Signalling equipment:
• signalling lamps • searchlights • torches • flare pistol with colour-coded signal flares •
buoyant VHF/UHF marker beacons • floating lights • smoke generators • flame and smoke
floats • dye markers • loud hailers
Preparations for medical assistance, including: • stretchers • blankets • medical supplies
and medicines • clothing • food • shelter, keep the hospital ready.
Miscellaneous equipment:
• If fitted, a gantry crane for hoisting on each side of ship with a cargo net for recovery of
survivors.
• Line running from bow to stern at the water's edge on both sides for boats and craft to
secure alongside.
• On the lowest weather deck, pilot ladders and manropes to assist survivors boarding the
vessel.
• Vessel's lifeboats ready for use as a boarding station.
• Line-throwing apparatus ready for making connection with either ship in distress or
 survival craft.
• Floodlights set in appropriate locations, if recovery at night. - Life-saving and rescue
equipment - Signalling equipment - Preparations for medical assistance .

Vessels Not Assisting:

The master deciding not to proceed to the scene of a distress due to sailing time involved
and in the knowledge that a rescue operation is under way should:
• Make an appropriate entry in the ships’ log-book.
• If the master had previously acknowledged and responded to the alert, report the decision
not to proceed to the SAR service concerned.
• Consider reports unnecessary if no contact has been made with the SAR service.
• Reconsider the decision not to proceed nor report to the SAR service when vessel in
distress is far from land or in an area where density of shipping is low.

DATUM: It is a geographic point, line, or area used as a reference in search planning. It

depends upon:

 any supplementary information such as DF bearings or sightings

 reported position and time of the SAR incident
 time interval between the incident and the arrival of SAR facilities. The vessel may
have drifted during this period. Drift direction and speed is the vector sum of leeway
and total water current

Datum position is found by moving from the incident position, or last computed datum
position, the drift distance in the drift direction and plotting the resulting position on a
suitable chart.

TRACK SPACING: The distance between adjacent parallel search tracks. Track spacing depends
on the following:
a. The type of vessel taking part in SAR.
b. The type of search object (Person, boat, liferaft etc.)
c. The number of crafts participating in SAR.
d. Visibility
e. Day time, night time etc.
f. Time elapse between time of occurrence, commencement of search operation.
Most search patterns consist of parallel tracks or sweeps covering a rectangular area.
Multiplying the uncorrected track spacing (Su) by the appropriate weather correction factor
(fw) produces the recommended track spacing (S): S = Su x fw.

Recommended uncorrected track spacing, correction factors based on weather conditions and
search object for merchant vessels are provided in the tables in IAMSAR in Section 3.
 IAMSAR Search Patterns Explanation with Sketches.
EXPANDING SQUARE SEARCH:

 Most effective when the location of the search object is known within relatively
close limits.
 The commence search point is always the Datum Position.
 To be used by a single ship during a search.
 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.
 Accurate navigation is required.
 The first leg is usually oriented directly into the wind to minimize navigational errors.
 All course alterations are of 90O.
 ‘d’ is the track spacing in the above diagram.
 SECTOR SEARCH:-

Sector Search IAMSAR Search Patterns

 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 at the datum.
 Can be used by only one craft at a time at a certain location.
 An aircraft and a vessel may be used to perform independent sector searches of the
same area.
 A suitable marker may be dropped at the datum and used as a reference point.
 The commence search point is where the ship or aircraft enters the area to be
searched.

PARALLEL SWEEP (TRACK) SEARCH:-

Parallel Sweep (Track) IAMSAR Search Patterns

 Used to search a large area when the location of the search object is uncertain.
 Usually used when a large search area must be divided into sub-area 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 sub-area.
 The main legs indicate the direction of drift.

Multiple vessels may be used next to each other at the same time.

 Normally used only if there is an OSC present to give direction to and provide
communications with the participating craft.
 Creeping line search, co-ordinated (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.
 The aircraft, as it passes over the ship, can easily make corrections to stay on the track
of its search pattern.
 Gives a higher probability of detection than can normally be attained by an aircraft
searching alone.
 Ship speed varies according to the speed of the aircraft and the size of the pattern.