What is IAMSAR VOL III?
- IAMSAR = International Aeronautical Maritime Search and Rescue
- VOL III is for mobile facilities e.g. ships/aircraft
Provides information to assist in performing a search and rescue
- Type of search patterns e.g. expanding square, vectors (by one ship) or parallel (by two ships)
- Drift patterns of different objects
- Distances of search patterns depending on what you’re looking for
- Care of survivors
- On-scene comms
- Initial action by assisting craft
Provides information on the role of the on-scene co-ordinator
- How to co-ordinate a search and rescue op
- Communications
- Planning and conducting a search
- It is mandatory to be carried on ships (in paper form)
Factors to consider when determining a SAR pattern
- Accuracy of datum
- Number of vessels in the area
- Aircraft available
- Visibility
- Size of area to searched
- Time of day
- Cloud ceiling
- Type of distressed craft
Factors to determine On Scene Coordinator
- Proximity of vessel to distress
- Manoeuvrability of vessel
- Communication Capabilities
- Personnel Capabilities
- Expertise of vessel (experience and competence in distress situations)
- Level of spoken English
- Type of vessel
- Durability of vessel
Factors affecting Observer in SAR
- Fatigue of observer
- visibility
- size of object they are looking for
- wave height
- land features in background
- Day time or night time
SAC Codes
32 - medical advise
38 - medical evac
39 - maritime assistance
Outline a Sector Search
- Search to be carried out by one vessel and an aircraft can assist
- To be used when datum position is of high accuracy
- Search pattern returns to datum position multiple times
Outline a Parallel Track search
- Used by multiple vessels
- Can be used by aircraft
- Used when datum is not known or inaccurate
- Used when large area needs to be searched
Outline a Expanding Square
- Used when datum is known
- Used by own vessel
- Cannot be used by multiple vessels
Outline publications to be consulted for helicopter operations
- IAMSAR VOL III
- Guide to Helicopter ship operations
- SMS
Outline factors be considered before helicopter operation
Bridge
- Course and speed relayed to helicopter
- Wind sock for helicopter
- Bridge team briefed of operation
- Securitae to surrounding ships
- VTS informed if necessary
- Lights and shapes changed when required at time of operation
- Helicopter informed of landing /winching area
- Get out Heli ops checklsit
On Deck
- Prepare fireteams
- Have foam standing by
- Casualty prepared and ready for evac
- Start fire pumps
- Deck cleared of all loose items
- Rescue boat standing by
- Lights, flags aerials lowered as required
