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Learn to command multiple vessel search patterns, allocate search areas, and coordinate SAR operations effectively. Understand the roles and duties of the On Scene Coordinator, communication protocols, safety measures, and search object parameters.
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COORDINATION OF MULTIPLE SURFACE UNITS February 2012 CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Standard • Coordinate a surface search. • Brief other resources on search plan and allocate areas. • Command multiple vessel search patterns. • Monitor and log progress, and provide SITREPs. • Understand limitations on own vessel. • Understand critical information.
Introduction • Joint Rescue Coordination Centre will designate a surface vessel as On Scene Coordinator for surface activities. • On Scene Coordinators will be designated from SAR units or military, naval or civil vessels with SAR capability.
Introduction • When deciding how much responsibility JRCC delegates to the OSC, they will consider communications and personnel capabilities of the SAR units involved. • Maximum number of SAR units under one OSC will be 5.
Duties of the OSC • Coordinate operations of all SAR resources on-scene. • Receive the SAR plan from JRCC. • Modify the plan as necessary, advising JRCC of changes and reasons. • Coordinate communications. • Monitor performance and safety of other SAR units.
Duties of the OSC • Make SITREPs to JRCC at intervals. • Maintain a detailed record of the operation, including times of arrival and departure of SAR units, areas searched, track spacing used, sightings and leads reported, actions taken, and results obtained. • Advise JRCC of SAR units no longer required.
Duties of the OSC • Advise numbers and names of survivors to JRCC. • Advise JRCC of all SAR units with survivors onboard. • Request additional resources where required (multiple survivors, injured survivors, etc)
Briefing Other Coxswains • Emphasise safety of rescuers and distressed persons. • Emphasise team work, error checking. • Designate communications channel and radio procedures. • Define search objects and area. • Define SITREPs to OSC. • Define track spacing and speed.
Briefing Other Coxswains • Follow standard procedures. • Encourage input from other resources where difficulties are experienced and where plan may need amending. • Define search speed which all resources can maintain.
Communications • All communications must use proper procedures. • Frequencies will probably be decided by JRCC. • A primary and secondary frequency will be assigned. E.g. 04A Primary 83A Secondary. • SITREPs to be provided at required intervals.
Communications • SITREPs to JRCC to consist of: 1. Identification of the incident if needed. 2. Initially a description of the incident, on-scene weather, and any amplifying information. 3. Any action taken / completed since the last SITREP, and any results. 4. Where unsuccessful, areas searched, and reasons why that may be the case.
Communications 5. What the future plans are envisioned, any recommendations, and whether additional resources required. 6. Status of the case - normally final SITREP when case is closed, or search is suspended pending further developments.
Safety - Restricted Visibility • When conducting a parallel search with multiple vessels in restricted visibility, consider the following: 1. Possibility of reducing the track spacing consistent with safety. 2. Consequences of loss of covering as much search area as in clear visibility. 3. Risk of collision.
Safety - Restricted Visibility • Consider a reduction of speed to increase safety. • If any vessel has radar problems, they must immediately inform the OSC. If they can still see adjacent vessels, the OSC may allow them to continue the search. • If they lose sight of the other vessels, they should inform the OSC and drop astern.
Track Spacing • Track spacing defined will depend on a number of factors: 1. Size of object be searched for. 2. The prevailing visibility. 3. The wind force and sea conditions. 4. Height of eye in the rescue vessel. • The track spacing can change depending upon the above changing.
Multiple Ship Search Patterns • There a number of systems used: 1. Different SAR units are allocated different areas, and associated single vessel search patterns appropriate to that area. 2. Different SAR units perform the same type of search together, coordinated to cover the area. Generally this will be only the parallel search.
Multiple Ship Search Patterns 1. Different SAR units are allocated different areas, and associated single vessel search patterns appropriate to that area. In this example all vessels and helicopter are doing parallel search, except hovercraft which is doing a shoreline search, then parallel.
Multiple Ship Search Patterns Osprey Rescue 604 (Helicopter) Hovercraft Aux. 1
Multiple Ship Search Patterns 2. Different SAR units perform the same type of search together, coordinated to cover the area. The following pages show the set up of parallel searches with different numbers of vessels.
Radar Search • If the position of the incident is not known, a radar search may be used. • Rescue vessel can be asked to form a loose line abreast and maintain a track spacing of about 1.5 x the detection range of the object. • The typical radar horizon of a RHIB is about 4 nautical miles. • Learn what the detection ranges for different vessels is on your radar.
Final Comment • Remember the intention of a search is to find the object(s) being searched for. • A perfect search pattern while desirable, is secondary to thoroughly searching the waters and adjacent coastline.
