3 The analysis of the use of mobile telephones by the SAR services can be summarized as follows:
- the use of mobile telephones has negative consequences:
* The mobile telephone is not a means of maritime radiocommunicaton. It is not compatible with the GMDSS. It does not allow direct contact with fishing or cargo vessels. It does not allow direct automatic reception of safety information, either through listening to regular shipping or meteorological information bulletins, when available, or ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore communications.
* The mobile telephone in general does not allow direct contact with port authorities, SAR services etc., in the same way as a VHF set. These services may, however, be called by telephone. Indeed, as leisure sailors often sail in the same area, it is easy for them to know the telephone numbers to use, not forgetting that there are often unique national numbers for emergency services.
* The main disadvantage, however, for the SAM services is that they cannot, as they do with VHF, call all ships in a given area to assist a ship in difficulties or to seek information of a ship about which nothing has been heard.
- conversely, the use of mobile telephones has some positive aspects:
* Apart from the fact that it offers a means of communication to people who would never be equipped with VHF, it reduces the number of inquiries by worried families of leisure sailors who are late, especially at nightfall. It is probable that the statistics will in a few years demonstrate this positive aspect;
* On a technical level, it is quite easy for the telephone network operator to determine the position of the user, which would be very useful in the case of an SAR operation. But it raises quite serious legal issues related to the protection of individual liberty.
This analysis confirms the one in the IAMSAR Manual (Volume 2, paragraph 2.10).
Action requested of the Sub-Committee
4 There is no question of wishing to restrict, by regulation or even persuasion, the use of mobile telephones on board leisure craft. It might be interesting, however, for the representatives of SAR services meeting in COMSAR to be able to exchange their growing experiences of the use of this equipment on leisure craft. This exchange of informtation could cover the following points (the list is not exhaustive):
.1 conformity with the situation described above;
.2 use in areas of maritime activity other than leisure;
.3 particular difficulties encountered;
.4 co-operation with cellular telephone netwrok operators;
.5 possibilities location of the user by the above operators;
.6 foreseeable technical improvements.
The Sub-Committee may consider it opportune, following the exchange of views, to publish a circular or make an amendment to the IAMSAR Manual.
