COMPETENCE : Respond to a distress

signal at sea
KUP: Knowledge of the contents of the
International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual
Methods for demonstrating competence:
Examination and assessment of evidence
obtained from practical instruction or
approved simulator training, where
appropriate
Criteria for evaluating competence: The
type and scale of the emergency is
promptly identified
 GENERAL SYSTEM CONCEPT OF
IAMSAR

CO1 Respond to a distress signal at sea

TOPIC: General System Concept of IAMSAR
3. The purpose of the IAMSAR
Manual for Mobile Facilities
LO1 Explain the General System Concept
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
State the purpose of the
IAMSAR Manual for
Mobile Facilities
PURPOSE
The purpose of the IAMSAR Manual for
Mobile Facilities, which is intended for
carriage on board search and rescue
units, and on board civil aircraft and
vessels, is to provide guidance to those
who:
 1• operate aircraft, vessels or other
craft, and who may be called upon to use
the facility to support SAR operations
2• may need to perform on-scene co-
ordinator functions for multiple facilities in
the vicinity of a distress situation
3• experience actual or potential
emergencies, and may require search and
rescue (SAR) assistance.
TOPIC: General System Concept of IAMSAR
4. Responsibilities and obligations
to assist (Master and Party)
ILO1: Explains the Responsibilities and
obligations to render assistance

TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY

Responsibilities and
obligations to assist
Master and Party
RESPONSIBILITIES AND OBLIGATIONS
TO ASSIST
Under long-standing traditions of the
sea and various provisions of international
law, ship masters are obligated to assist
others in distress at sea whenever they
can safely do so.
The responsibilities to render
assistance to a distressed vessel or
aircraft are based on humanitarian
considerations and established
international practice.
Specific Obligations can be Found in
Several International Conventions,
Including the Following:

A. FOR MASTER

1. Salvage Convention, 1989 Article 10,

par. 1. “Every master is bound, so far as
he can do so without serious danger to
his vessel and persons thereon, to render
assistance to any person in danger of
being lost at sea.”
2. SOLAS 1974 as amended, Reg. V/33,
par. 1
“The master of a ship at sea which is in a
position to be able to provide assistance
on receiving a signal from any source that
persons are in distress at sea, is bound to
proceed with all speed to their assistance,
if possible informing them or the search
and rescue service that the ship is doing
so.”
3. UNCLOS, 1982 Article 98, par. 1
State shall require the master of a ship
flying its flag, in so far as he can do so
without serious danger to the ship, the
crew, or the passengers ... to render
assistance to any person found at sea in
danger of being lost ...”. in addition to
imposing an obligation on States to
“promote the establishment, operation and
maintenance of an adequate and effective
search and rescue service regarding safety
on and over the sea ...”.
4. Geneva Convention on the High Seas,
1958 Article 12, par. 1.
“Every State shall require the master of a
ship sailing under its flag, insofar as he
can do so without serious danger to the
ship, the crew or the passengers: to
render assistance to any person found at
sea in danger of being lost; …”
5. International Convention on Maritime
Search and Rescue, 1979 as amended
ANNEX, Chapter 3, par. 3.1.9
“Parties shall co-ordinate and co-
operate to ensure that masters of ships
providing assistance by embarking
persons in distress at sea are released
from their obligations with minimum
further deviation from the ships ́ intended
voyage, provided that releasing the master
of the ship from these obligations does not
further endanger the safety of life at sea.”
6. International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue Manual, Section 1 –
Responsibilities and obligations to assist
“Under long-standing traditions of the
sea and various provisions of international
law, ship masters are obligated to assist
others in distress at sea whenever they can
safely do so.”
B. FOR STATES / GOVERNMENTS

1. SOLAS 1974 as amended, Reg. V/7, par.1

“Each Contracting Government
undertakes to ensure that necessary
arrangements are made for distress
communication and co-ordination in their
area of responsibility and for the rescue of
persons in distress at sea around its
coasts.”
2. ICAO , Annex 12, Chapter 2, par. 2.1.1
“Contracting States shall, individually or
in cooperation with other States, arrange
for the establishment and prompt
provision of search and rescue services
within their territories to ensure that
assistance is rendered to persons in
distress. Such services shall be provided
on a 24-hour basis.”
3. UNCLOS, 1982 Article 98, par. 1
State shall require the master of a ship
flying its flag, in so far as he can do so
without serious danger to the ship, the
crew, or the passengers ... to render
assistance to any person found at sea in
danger of being lost ...”. in addition to
imposing an obligation on States to
“promote the establishment, operation and
maintenance of an adequate and effective
search and rescue service regarding
safety on and over the sea ...”.
4. Geneva Convention on the High Seas,
1958 Article 12, par. 1.
“Every State shall require the master of
a ship sailing under its flag, insofar as he
can do so without serious danger to the
ship, the crew or the passengers: to
render assistance to any person found at
sea in danger of being lost; to proceed
with all possible speed to the rescue of
persons in distress if in formed of their
need of assistance, ….”
5. International Convention on Maritime
Search and Rescue, 1979 as amended
ANNEX, Chapter 3, par. 3.1.9
“Parties shall co-ordinate and co-operate to
ensure that masters of ships providing
assistance by embarking persons in
distress at sea are released from their
obligations with minimum further deviation
from the ships ́ intended voyage, provided
that releasing the master of the ship from
these obligations does not further
endanger the safety of life at sea.”
6. International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue Manual, Section 1 –
National and Regional SAR system
organization
“Many States have accepted the
obligation to provide aeronautical and
maritime SAR co-ordination and services
on a 24-hour basis for their territories,
territorial seas, and where appropriate, the
high seas.”