Recommendation 6/7 - Submission of SAR Plans
That, members of the JWG submit their National SAR Plans for discussion at the next meeting of the JWG.
3.7 A working paper was presented which included draft amendments to ICAO Annex 12. It was explained that this was not an amendment proposal but should only form the basis for discussions, taking into account the recently adopted changes to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue. It was agreed that a drafting correspondence group be established with the mandate to harmonize Annex 12 with the maritime SAR Convention. In this context it was observed that the need to change Annex 12 should first be established by the drafting group. Col. Rick Hardy would be the Rapporteur while members of the group would include Messrs. Urban Hallberg, Mervin Fernando, David McBrien and Cay-R. Boquist. The JWG asked the drafting correspondence group to submit its proposal to members of the JWG before 1 October 1999.
3.7.1 It was proposed by the observer from Greece that in preparing a revised ICAO Annex 12, attention had to be given to the fact that the Annex of the 1979 Hamburg Convention differed from Annex 12 in several essential points concerning principles, structure and operational procedures, i.e. operational responsibilities for aeronautical SAR are associated with internationally recognized aeronautical SRRs established in accordance with the relevant ICAO provisions and documents in the appropriate ICAO Regional Air Navigation Plans.
3.7.2 The ICAO Secretary explained that the ICAO regional air navigation planning processes did not coincide with some of the wording of the maritime SAR Convention relating to the establishment of SRRs. Therefore, the maritime SAR Convention and ICAO Annex 12 could not be aligned in that area.
Recommendation 6/8 - Annex 12 amendments
That, the Annex 12 drafting correspondence group presents the results of its review to JWG/7, including proposals for amendment as necessary.
3.8 During the discussions relating to Annex 12 and the Maritime SAR Convention, the opinion was voiced that there should be only one SAR Convention covering both ICAO and IMO, and that this Convention could be a United Nations Convention. It was remarked that this would involve a lengthy process and that it was preferred that the alignment of Annex 12 and the Maritime SAR Convention went ahead and that the possibility of a common SAR Convention for ICAO and IMO had to be considered further.
3.8.1 The cost for purchasing the manuals was discussed at length and it was noted that Volume 3 would be widely used by SOLAS ships. Volume 3 would also be used by aircraft involved in SAR even if, in most cases, they would not be carried on board but be used for training and on the ground. As many aircraft used for SAR were provided on a volunatry basis and the cost for equipping all SAR aircraft with Volume 3 could not be absorbed by the SAR authorities, it was suggested that a way should be devised so that the copyright on that volume could be waived. This could not be resolved by the Joint Working Group but had to be brought to the various States' Representatives to ICAO and IMO. Concern was expressed that the Manual would not be distributed to all that needed it when the cost was a factor. Background information on that aspect is provided at Appendix F. It was considered important that all SOLAS ships carried Volume 3 and that therefore, the carriage should be made mandatory. Consequently, the JWG formulated the following recommendation.
