Recommendation6/12 - Cruise ships
That, the JWG member from France bring to COMSAR 4 a request for clarification of fixed routes as relating to cruise ships.
Recommendation 6/12 - Plans for co-operation between SAR services and passenger ships
That, the United Kingdom framework document for cruise ships and similar vessels be brought to COMSAR 4 for information.
4.3 At COMSAR 3, a paper had been submitted comprising a proposal for a circular on "Medical assistance at sea and importance of the role of Telemedical Maritime Advice Centres". Also submitted was a proposed COMSAR Circular about "Medical assistance at sea and maritime radiocommunications". COMSAR 3 invited Members to consider the preliminary draft circulars and to submit comments and proposals thereon for consideration by the JWG/6 meeting and advise COMSAR 4. Consequently, a paper was presented which proposed a sole integrated medical assistance system in the form of tele-medical advice centres (TMAC). It was suggested that the MRCCs would still remain key elements of the system as they were in charge of operational decisions. It was discussed whether a similar system was required for the aeronautical area. It was also suggested that the creation of a new organization in the form of TMACs would not be appropriate but reference should instead be made to e.g. "competent medical advisors". The JWG agreed that the proposed Circular should be amended in light of the discussion and that Mr. Mike Russel would ascertain the need for any aviation input.
4.4 The issue of definitions of medical teams was discussed and it was noted that there were differences in States as to what constituted such units, e.g. paramedics. The JWG agreed that there was a need to carry out a comparison study to ascertain the competency of medical intervention teams. Medical doctors of the French TMAC, in co-operation with foreign colleagues, were to prepare a questionnaire which would allow for comparison between countries. The questionnaire would be distributed to participants of the JWG who would pass it on to people that could provide the responses. TMAC, in co-operation with other medical experts, would analyze replies to establish a comparison which would be presented to JWG/7. The JWG agreed to the proposal and invited the members the give the questionnaire the widest possible distribution.
Recommendation 6/14 - Medical intervention teams
That, a comparison study be carried out on the competency of medical intervention teams with the resulting analysis to be presented to JWG/7.
5. Agenda Item 5 - SAR system administration, organization and implementation methods
5.1 Information was provided regarding Australia's approach to implementing a fully integrated aviation and maritime RCC. At a srategic level, a single integrated RCC was perceived to provide benefits including a higher profile and a more focused strategic direction for SAR. Therefore, a decision had been taken to amalgamate the activities of three RCCs into a single organization. Stage one was the collocation and integration at the management level; the second stage was the integration at the RCC supervisor level; and the third stage was a lateral integration at an operative level. The JWG found the Australian approach to be very useful and agreed that it be included in the report as Appendix G*.
*See COMSAR 4/INF.2
