Recommendation 6/9 - Mandatory carriage of IAMSAR Volume 3
That, the IAMSAR Manual, Volume 3, be mandatory for all SOLAS vessels, replacing the existing MERSAR Manual.
3.8.2 Regarding publication of the IAMSAR Manual later in 1998 the group was of the opinion that this had to be advertised to States so that those concerned became aware that new material had become available. This could also involve a press release. It was agreed that the ICAO and IMO Secretaries to the JWG should ensure that information would be included in the respective magazines of the Organizations.
Recommendation 6/10 - Announcing the availability of IAMSAR Manual
That, ICAO and IMO include in their respective magazine, information when the IAMSAR Manual is published and available.
3.9 Regarding information relating to addresses and communications capabilities of MRCCs, it was noted that this could be published by IMO and passed on to ICAO. Also, informtation on ARCCs could be included in the MSC Circular on the subject. In particular, the communications capabilities of both MRCCs and ARCCs would be of interest to the search and rescue community.
4. Agenda Item 4 - SAR operational principles, procedures and techniques
4.1 A draft amendment proposal to the IAMSAR Manual related to overland search planning for missing aircraft was introduced. In Canadian studies it had been observed that aircraft normally crashed closer to the intended track than was previously believed. Also, the distance from track where most aircraft could be found did not increase with the distance flown but remained the same. The method proposed was easy to follow ared was also used by Norway and the United States for overland search. No working group member was aware of any additional studies on the subject. It was agreed that the proposal contained very good material and that it was a good starting point from which provisions could be further developed for inclusion in Volumes 2 and 3 of the IAMSAR Manual. The members from the United States agreed to take the lead in preparing an amendment proposal for the next meeting of the JWG. The proposals by the United States would be distributed before 1 October 1999.
Recommendation 6/11 - Amendment of IAMSAR regarding land SAR
That, the members from the United States further develop the material contained in JWG/6-WP/4, to be presented to JWG/7 as an amendment proposal to the IAMSAR, Volumes 2 and 3.
4.2 A paper relating to plans for co-operation between SAR services and cruise ships as required by SOLAS V 15 (c) was presented. It was noted that the SOLAS regulation was a requirement for passenger ships fading on fixed routes and that the plans were required to be developed in co-operation between the ship and the search and rescue services. It was pointed out that not all flag states were applying this regulation to all passenger ships, only ro-ro ferries, and that without clarification regarding the term 'fixed routes' and the subsequent world-wide uniform application of the this regulation there would be a need for special arrangements for cruise ships where States had applied the regulation to this class of passenger ship. For this reason the United Kingdom had designated one of its MRCCs (Falmouth) as a SAR Data Provider (SDP) or a single point of contact for others to get information on any United Kingdom flagged passenger ship wherever it might be. In the discussions that followed it was agreed that this needed to be clarified, particularly as it was believed that the Panel of Experts had always intended that the regulation should apply to all passenger ships. It was agreed that France should bring this to the attention of COMSAR 4. It was also agreed that JWG/6-WP/7 be presented to COMSAR 4 for information.
