MSC 69/3/1
ANNEX
.6 processes to improve the service including
planning, domestic and intemational co-operative
relationships and training.
Parties shall, as far as practicable, follow
relevant minimum standards and guidelines developed by
the Organization.
2.1.3 To help ensure the provision of adequate
shore-based communication infrastructure, efficient distress
alert routeing, and proper operational co-ordination to
effectively support search and rescue services, Parties
shall, individually or in co-operation with other States,
ensure that suffrcient search and rescue regions are
established within each sea area. Such regions should be
contiguous and, as far as practicable, not overlap.
2.1.4 Each search and rescue region shall be
established by agreement among Parties concemed. the
Secreiary-General shall be notified of such agreements.
2.1.5 In case agreement on the exact dimensions of a
search and rescue region is not reached by the Parties
concerned, those Parties shall use their best endeavours to
reach agreement upon appropriate arrangcments under which the
equivalent overall co-ordination of search and rescue
services is provided in the area. The Secretary-General shall
be notified of such arrangements.
2.1.6 Agreement on the regions or arrangements referred
to in paragraphs 2.1.4 and 2.1.5 shall be recorded by the
Parties concemed, or in written plans accepted by the
Parties.
2.1.7 The delimitation of search and rescue regions is
not related to and shall not prejudice the delimitation of
any boundary between States.
2.1.8 Parties should seek to promote consistency, where
applicable, between their maritime and aeronautical search
and rescue services while considering the establishment of
maritime search and rescue regions which shall be established
by agreement in accordance with paragraph 2.1.4 or the
reaching of agreement upon appropriate arrangements in
accordance with paragraph 2.1.5.
2.1.9 Parties having accepted responsibility to provide
search and rescue services for a specified area shall use
search and rescue units and other available facilities for
providing assistance to persons who are, or appear to be, in
distress at sea.
2.1.10 Parties shall ensure that assistance be provided
to any person in distress at sea. They shall do so regardless
ofthe nationality or status of such a person or the
circumstances in which that person is found.
2.1.11 Parties shall forward to the Secretary-General
information on their search and rescue service, including
the:
.1 national authority responsible for the
maritime search and rescue services;
.2 location of the established rescue
co-ordination centres or centres providing SAR
co-ordination for the search and rescue region or regions
and communications therewith;
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