SUB-COMMITTEE ON
RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS AND
SEARCH AND RESCUE
4th session
Agenda item 8.2 and 3.3
COMSAR 4/8/3
26 March 1999
Original: FRENCH
MATTERS CONCERNING SEARCH AND RESCUE, INCLUDING THOSE RELATED TO THE 1979 SAR CONFERENCE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GMDSS
Plan for the provision of maritime SAR services, including procedures for routeing distress information in the GMDSS
Clarification of the relationship between search and rescue (SAR) and maritime safety information (MSI)
Submitted by France
SUMMARY
Executive summary: The relationship between SAR and MSI has been unclear since the introduction of the GMDSS. The proposed COMSAR circular, annexed to this document, seeks to provide clarification in this area by excluding alerts from the concept of MSI. A draft resolution, also annexed, proposes, for the same purpose, an amendment to a definition contained in resolution A.705 (17)
Action to be taken: Paragraph 4
Related documents: SOLAS IV/2, IV/4, V/2, V/10; A.705 (17); A.706 (17); COMSAR/Circ.3; COMSAR/Circ.15; GMDSS Handbook; lnternational SafetyNET Manual; NAVTEX Manual
1 Some IMO documents on GMDSS heat search and rescue communications (especially shore-to-ship distress alerts, which are of particular interest here) as completely distinct from maritime safety information (MSI). This is the case of SOLAS regulation IV/4 and 3.2.22 to 3.2.25 and 3.2.30 of the GMDSS Handbook.
In other documents, however, SAR communications, including shore-to-ship alerts are treated as MSI. This is the case of resolution A.705 (17) "Promulgation of Maritime Safety Information" (1.1), figure 1, page 3 of the GMDSS Handbook, and the International SafetyNET Manual, to name but a few.
Lastly, resolution A.706 (17) (amended by circulars MSC/Circ.685 and MSC/Circ.750) "World-Wide Navigational Warning Service" and the Joint lMO/IHO/WM0 Manual on Maritime Safety Information (COMSAR/Circ.15) envisage cases where search and rescue operations constitute navigational warnings (which are one of the categories of MSI). The latter document adds to the confusion by postponing the drafting of a chapter 5 - Search and Rescue.
