SUB-COMMITTEE ON
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AND
SEARCH AND RESCUE
6th session
Agenda item 6
COMSAR 4/6/1
14 April 1999
Original: FRENCH
SATELLITE SERVICES (INMARSAT AND COSPAS-SARSAT)
Special series of IMO circulars for COSPAS-SARSAT
Submitted by France
SUMMARY
Executive summary: COSPAS-SARSAT is one of the components of the GMDSS and works in conjunction with the IMO, the co-depository of its founding agreement. A special series of IMO circulars for COSPAS-SARSAT would assist the latter in promulgating certain information to the maritime community as a whole.
Action to be taken: Paragraph 9
Related documents: None
1 The COSPAS-SARSAT system is one of the systems which provides the GMDSS with a distress alert system via polar orbital satellites operating in the 406 MHz band (SOLAS IV/7.1.6). It is thus closely associated with IMO's actions related to the GMDSS.
2 At its sixth session (JWG6), the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Search and Rescue entered into discussions on the relations between COSPAS-SARSAT and the SAR community.
3 It is clear, as described in the report of JWG6 (COMSAR 4/8/4, paragraph 3.4 of the annex), that in principle it is up to the SAR community to decide what information it would like to receive from a communication provider and not the other way around. COSPAS-SARSAT's approach to the question of satellite traffic on the 121.5 MHz frequency has consistently observed this principle well. However, if one considers the practical aspects of the functioning of the system and not the major principles of general policy, the principle needs a degree of compromise, if the system is not to be prevented from keeping up with technical progress, and the consequent risk of rapid atrophy.
4 Such compromise to the principle is acceptable in that the SAR community is well represented on the governing bodies of COSPAS-SARSAT and can participate in the decision-making process. Furthermore the COSPAS-SARSAT secretariat regularly participates in IMO meetings relating to search and rescue (MSC, COMSAR, JWG). Indeed, all the States that provide an expert to the JWG participate in COSPAS-SARSAT
