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USCG & SARSAT U.S. SAR System U.S. SAR System National SAR Committee National SAR Committee Guidance Documents Guidance Documents U.S. Coast Guard SAR U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of Responsibilities Areas of Responsibilities Assets Assets SARSAT SARSAT

USCG & SARSAT U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

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Page 1: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

USCG & SARSAT

U.S. SAR SystemU.S. SAR System•National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee•Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents

U.S. Coast Guard SARU.S. Coast Guard SAR•Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas of Responsibilities•AssetsAssets

SARSATSARSAT

Page 2: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

- U.S. Nat’l SAR Plan -Nat’l SAR Supplement (NSS) to the IAMSAR

Manual

-- National SAR Committee --

ICAO: Convention on Civil Aviation (1944)

IMO: International SAR Convention (1979)

Global SAR Plan

U.S. SAR System

Int’l Aeronautical & Maritime SAR (IAMSAR)

Manual

Page 3: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

Member AgenciesMember Agencies• Department of Defense Department of Defense (DOD)(DOD)• Department of Interior Department of Interior (DOI)(DOI)• Department of Commerce Department of Commerce (DOC)(DOC)• Department of Transportation Department of Transportation (DOT)(DOT)• Federal Communications Commission Federal Communications Commission (FCC)(FCC)• National Aeronautics &Space Administration National Aeronautics &Space Administration (NASA)(NASA)• Department of Homeland Security Department of Homeland Security (DHS)(DHS)

NSARC Chair: Coast Guard (DHS)NSARC Chair: Coast Guard (DHS)

National SAR Committee (NSARC)

NASAR, CAP, State SC Reps also in attendanceNASAR, CAP, State SC Reps also in attendance

Page 4: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

NSARC Objectives

• ““. . . provide a standing committee to . . . provide a standing committee to oversee the National SAR Plan and oversee the National SAR Plan and coordinate interagency SAR coordinate interagency SAR matters.”matters.”

• ““. . . provide a forum for preliminary . . . provide a forum for preliminary development of interagency positions development of interagency positions in SAR matters.”in SAR matters.”

• ““. . . provide for an interface with . . . provide for an interface with other national agencies involved with other national agencies involved with emergency services.”emergency services.”

Page 5: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

1.National Search and Rescue Plan of the United States1.National Search and Rescue Plan of the United States

• 19-Page Plan for coordinating search and rescue (SAR) 19-Page Plan for coordinating search and rescue (SAR) services to meet domestic needs and international services to meet domestic needs and international commitments.commitments.

• Assigns Federal SAR Coordinator (SC) responsibilities.Assigns Federal SAR Coordinator (SC) responsibilities. 2. National SAR Supplement (NSS) to the IAMSAR Manual2. National SAR Supplement (NSS) to the IAMSAR Manual

• Implements the NatImplements the Nat’’l SAR Planl SAR Plan• Provides guidance to federal agenciesProvides guidance to federal agencies

in support of the IAMSAR Manual and in support of the IAMSAR Manual and the IMO/ICAO SAR conventions.the IMO/ICAO SAR conventions.

NSARC Documents

Page 6: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

NSS

National SAR PlanAppendix A

National SAR Plan and USCG Addendum

USCG Addendum to the NSS

•Provides detailed guidance and Provides detailed guidance and policy on how the Coast Guard will policy on how the Coast Guard will conduct SARconduct SAR

Page 8: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

• Save Lives and Property at Sea• Authority to conduct SAR missions is contained in Title 14,

Sections 2, 88, and 141 of the U.S. Code. • The code states that the Coast Guard shall develop, establish,

maintain and operate SAR facilities.• and may render aid to distressed persons and protect and save

property on and under the high seas.• Coast Guard performance of SAR is essentially permissive in

nature. • Search and Rescue activity may be considered a mandated

function, but no specific level of performance has been cited under the legislative authority.

U.S.C.G. SAR Program Purpose

Page 9: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

U.S.C.G. SAR Program Objectives

• Four general objectives provide direction for the SAR Program:• Minimize loss of life, injury, and property loss and

damage in the maritime environment;• Minimize crew risk during SAR missions;• Optimize use of resources in conducting SAR;• Maintain a world leadership position in maritime SAR.

Page 10: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

UN/USA SARSAT TrainingMiami Beach, FL Jan 2009

Coast Guard Districts…

Page 11: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

UN/USA SARSAT TrainingMiami Beach, FL Jan 2009

Districts are divided into Sectors

Page 14: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

UN/USA SARSAT TrainingMiami Beach, FL Jan 2009

Other Federal, State, Local agencies

Commercial services

Volunteer agencies

Fellow mariners (“Good Samaritans”)

SAR Response Assets cont.

Page 15: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

An “Average Day” inthe U.S. Coast Guard:

On an average day, the Coast Guard: Conducts 109 SAR Cases Saves 10 lives Assists 192 people in distress Protects $2,791,841 in property

Page 16: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

International Cospas-Sarsat Program

National SARSAT Program

Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking

Inland SAR

Maritime SAR

Research & Development

System Operation

Representative to International Cospas-Sarsat Program

Page 17: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

ELT

PLB

EPIRB

Page 18: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

U.S. Coast Guard Addendum to the United States National SAR Supplement

Chapter 3 - Search Planning

USCG SARSAT Policies

Page 19: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

3.4.4 Distress Beacon Incidents / SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) Alerts Distress beacons (EPIRBs, ELTs, and PLBs) are some of the most important tools available to SAR authorities. The various distress beacon systems are covered in Chapter 3 of reference (a) and Section 2.1.4 of this Addendum.

3.4.4.1 Risk Management Regarding Alert Positions. In some instances, the indicated position for an alert is so significantly distant from available SAR resources that it is impractical to immediately dispatch resources to assist. Similarly, there are situations in which distress alert information is sketchy and the immediate dispatch of SAR resources would jeopardize the safety of others or leave a relatively large area of responsibility (AOR) without SAR coverage. In these situations, RCCs should spend a reasonable amount of time investigating and evaluating the situation prior to dispatching resources. Additionally, RCCs may attempt to alert alternative resources (e.g., Good Samaritans, Amver participants, other agencies, etc.) that may be in a position to assist.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 20: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

3.4.4.2 Response Policy. In response to beacon alerts, RCCs should consider all available information such as position information, registration information, and the presence of corroborating information. RCCs should evaluate reports and attempt to correlate them with other indications of distress. Concurrently, they should attempt to obtain additional information on those involved. RCCs should expand their investigations as necessary to aggressively pursue the cause of alert signals and dispatch resources to assist, as circumstances require. Types of beacon alerts and response policy guidance are presented in Table 3-4 below.

(a) Audible beacon alerts don't always indicate distress. Historically, many of these alerts have been false alarms resulting from hard aircraft landings or caused by crew error during vessel maintenance. Reports of audible beacon alerts indicate a beacon has been activated. SAR response to an audible beacon signal should be similar to the type of response provided for flare sightings. In cases where Coast Guard resources hear the beacon, they normally respond immediately and determine the signal source. Most other audible signal reports come from commercial aircraft and will help determine general beacon location.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 21: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(b) 406 MHz Beacon Cospas-Sarsat Alerts. Since 1990, beacon technology has been moving to a solely dedicated frequency for satellite distress beacons, 406 MHz. On January 1, 2007, 406 MHz EPIRBs became the only type of EPIRB authorized for use in the United States. Use of this frequency will minimize interference problems. In addition, satellite software recognizes and relays only coded 406 MHz beacon signals, minimizing false alerts. Accordingly, response to 406 MHz beacon alerts is immediate, keeping in mind the precepts of risk management. The use of the 406 MHz emergency frequency is not limited to strictly EPIRBs. Both Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) use the same frequency. The use of PLBs in the marine environment has become more common as they represent a more cost effective distress tool for recreational boaters. Beacon manufacturers are actively marketing PLBs to the recreational boating public. As an emergency signaling device, an ELT or a PLB functions similarly to a 406 MHz EPIRB; response policy to these beacons is identical.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 22: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(1) First alerts and composite solutions for 406 MHz beacons indicate a beacon has been activated. SAR response to a 406 MHz beacon alert should approximate response to a MAYDAY. The 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat system and equipment yield high confidence alerts and positions. However, factors such as satellite pass geometry, atmospheric anomalies, and beacon oscillator stability may degrade the beacon signal and position data. Any alert degradation is usually reflected in the split between A and B solution probabilities on first alert messages.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 23: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(2) Registered but Unlocated 406 MHz Alerts. Treat registered, but unlocated 406 MHz alerts as distress, exploit all reasonable means to ascertain distress position and assist the party in distress, including issuing a UMIB.

a. Registered, but unlocated 406 MHz alerts signal distress, but contain no position information. In order to render assistance we must exploit all reasonable means to ascertain at least a general distress position. Armed with a general position or usual operating area and suitable homing capable response assets, we are able to render timely, effective assistance.

b. EPIRB registration points of contact are usually the most promising leads for information, particularly for position, situation and further points of contact. In addition, UMIBs should be used as a means to determine distress position and to maximize resource of opportunity response, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary. When only general position information is available, suitable aircraft should be launched to direction find on the 406 MHz beacon's signal.

c. For incidents where no position information other than homeport is available, issuing a UMIB in the vessel's homeport area is appropriate.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 24: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(3) Unregistered/Unlocated GPS Protocol Beacons. Location Protocol Beacons or GPS Protocol Beacons contain a GPS chip that can accurately calculate the position of the beacon and transmit that position as part of the beacon registration information received by the satellite. Since the Cospas-Sarsat system requires multiple passes from low earth orbiting satellites to calculate the beacons position by Doppler shift, this technology provides a more timely method of notifying SAR responders of a beacons position. a. For alerts that contain an encoded GPS position (described in alert messages as an “E” solution), responders shall evaluate it as a distress incident regardless of whether the beacon is registered or if a location has been determined by the Cospas-Sarsat system. b. When a composite position is obtained by Cospas-Sarsat satellite passes, SAR planners should compare the encoded GPS position to the composite solution to verify the location of response.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 25: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(6) Use of Elementals For Rapid Moving Search Objects or Long Drifts. When processing 406MHz alert position update messages, the composite solution position may not always be the most accurate position to use for search planning. SARSAT data processing algorithms average several elemental position updates (the raw position data from a single satellite pass) to generate the composite position. In instances where the system has been receiving data for a significant period of time (multiple satellite passes) or in an environment where there is significant total datum drift, using the elemental position (raw data) from each satellite pass will provide a more accurate update to the beacons position. This elemental position date is provided on each update message and can be manually plotted using SARTOOLs. Figure 3-7 shows an example of a rapid moving object and position comparison.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 26: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

(7) Notification of Country of Registry (NOCR). Command Centers may occasionally receive messages through the SARSAT system providing "Notification of Country of Registry" or NOCRs. These messages provide notification of the activation of a U.S. registered EPIRB in a location outside of the U.S. SAR Region. In these instances, the beacon activation alert has been forwarded to the appropriate RCC in the nation that has SAR responsibility for the composite position of the beacon, and the United States SAR authorities are being notified as a follow up to the normal SAR response process. Whenever possible, RCCs should attempt to contact the responsible RCC to ensure that SAR response efforts are being taken to assist U.S. citizens in distress.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 27: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

3.4.4.4 Registration/Follow-up Policy. All Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary units should make every effort to encourage beacon users to register their beacon. The easiest method for registration is online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. Units should also have spare 406 MHz EPIRB registration cards for users to fill out and mail to the USMCC. A sample registration card is in Appendix J. It is mandatory for the owner to register the 406 MHz beacon. In addition, units should relay registration information to the USMCC. Other beacon types are registered in various ways. Units should strongly encourage beacon owners to "register" as soon as possible.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 28: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

3.4.4.5 Improper Use of EPIRBS as DMBs. EPIRBs are distress beacons. As such, search planners shall not normally use them as DMBs. While it may seem convenient at times to leave an EPIRB drifting to mark datum during a SAR case, that beacon's signal may prevent another distress beacon from being properly tracked or heard.(a) SLDMBs are the appropriate tools for marking datum in extended search cases. When located, EPIRBs shall be recovered and, whenever necessary and possible, SLDMBs deployed in the same position to mark datum. Standard radio DMBs work fairly well when no SLDMBs are available. (b) In situations where the EPIRB is the only means of marking datum, close coordination between the SMC and the USMCC will be required.

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

Page 29: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

CG Addendum to the SAR ManCG Addendum to the SAR Man

3.5.4.1 Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) should be recovered and/or the signal secured whenever possible at the time of a rescue.(a) EPIRBs should not be left afloat as a DMB. If additional persons remain missing or there is a need to mark the position of a vessel or floating debris a DMB should be used. (See 2.6.4.5) (b) EPIRBs left adrift at the conclusion of a SAR incident, continue to transmit. The signal produced may prevent another distress beacon from being properly tracked or heard. (c) EPIRBs used in SAR incidents that operated improperly or failed should be recovered for analysis.

Page 30: USCG & SARSAT  U.S. SAR System National SAR CommitteeNational SAR Committee Guidance DocumentsGuidance Documents  U.S. Coast Guard SAR Areas of ResponsibilitiesAreas

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USCG & SARSAT

LCDR Kathy Niles LCDR Kathy Niles U.S. Coast Guard HeadquartersU.S. Coast Guard Headquarters

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(202) 372-2089(202) 372-2089