rescue coordination centers (rccs) and sar points of ... · persons in distress. ((,iamsar, volume...

Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs)Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) and

SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs)

Gulf Satellite Aided Search and Rescue SeminarAbu Dhabi, UAE MARCH 2011

Capt Mohammed Almansoori Abu Dhabi RCC

Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) andSAR Points of Contact (SPOCs)

What we will cover

( )Gulf Satellite Aided Search and Rescue Seminar

Abu Dhabi, UAE, MARCH 2011

What we will cover

1. What is IAMSAR2. Overview of RCC and SPOCs3. RCC Functional Requirements4. Integrating Cospas‐Sarsat Alerts5. SAR Intel and Resource Utilizations6 SAR Response to a Cospas‐Sarsat Alert6. SAR Response to a Cospas Sarsat Alert7. Feedback to MCC 8. Recommendations


Few things first!



Few things first!What does Search and What does Rescue mean?

Search: An operation, normally coordinated by a RCC or

RSC, using available personnel and facilities to locate

persons in distress. (IAMSAR, Volume 1)p ( , )

Rescue: An operation to retrieve persons in distress,

provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliverprovide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver

them to a place of safety. (IAMSAR, Volume 1)


What is IAMSAR?



1. The Organization and Management volume (Volume I) discusses the global SAR system concept, establishment and improvement of national and regional SAR systems and cooperation with neighboring States to provide effective andcooperation with neighboring States to provide effective and economical SAR services

2. The Mission Coordination volume (Volume II) assists personnel who plan and coordinate SAR operations and exercises; p p ;

3. The Mobile Facilities volume (Volume III) is intended to be carried aboard rescue units, aircraft, and vessels to help with performance of a search, rescue, or on‐scene coordinator function and with aspects of SAR that pertain to their own emergenciesand with aspects of SAR that pertain to their own emergencies.


Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)



Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)

Is a unit responsible for prompting efficient organization

of search and rescue operations within a Search

and Rescue Region (SRR)

(IAMSAR, Volume 1)

Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) andSAR Points of Contact (SPOCs)( )

Gulf Satellite Aided Search and Rescue SeminarAbu Dhabi, UAE, MARCH 2011

Rescue Sub‐Centers (RSCs)

A unit subordinate to an RCC, established to complement the latter , paccording to particular provisions of the responsible authorities:

• Where communications facilities in a portion of an SRR are not adequate to enable close coordination between RCC and SAR facilitiesadequate to enable close‐coordination between RCC and SAR facilities

• Where the SRR encompasses a number of states or territorial divisions where local facilities can only be directed through local authoritiesy g

• Requirements for personnel, equipment and accommodations are similar to an RCC


Search and Rescue Point of Contact (SPOC):



Search and Rescue Point of Contact (SPOC):

“Rescue Coordination Centers and other established

recognized point of contact which can accept

responsibility to receive Cospas‐Sarsat

alert data to enable rescue of persons p

in distress.” (IAMSAR Volume 1)


RCC Functional Requirements








‐ 24 hours availability‐ Working knowledge of English language‐ Charts and Plotting Equipments which apply to the SRR (nautical,

aeronautical and topographic)aeronautical and topographic)‐ Plans, procedures, organizational and administrative‐ System for receiving distress alerts (COSPAS‐SARSAT AND GMDSS)‐ Communication commensurate with responsibilities p‐ Rapid and reliable‐ Telephone and facsimile‐ SRUs, Adjacent RCCs ,RSCs , ATS, ect‐ Aeronautical Fixed Telecom Network (AFTN), MF/HF/VHF/UHF, GMDSS,

Inmarsat, ect.‐ Use of information system and computer resources (internet)


• Integrating Cospas‐Sarsat in SAR Operations



Integrating Cospas Sarsat in SAR Operations

RCCs can use available

advance computerized

system which receive

all automated receipts p

and track alerts as

per IAMSAR Manual.





Abu Dhabi RCC, Dubai RCC, Jeddah MRCC and some other SPOCs in the Region uses SARMaster (EMS Global Tracking)for the integrating ofCospas‐Sarsat alerts into SAR Operationsp p

Abu Dhabi RCC and Dubai RCC also use the incident forwarding service that is offer by SARMaster. We basically forward the incident based on the RCC/SPOCs area of responsibility.


Ab Dh bi RCC d D b i R C di i C h EMS Gl b l



• Abu Dhabi RCC and Dubai Rescue Coordination Centers use the EMS Global Tracking SARMaster systems to display (map) distress beacon data from MCCs.

• SARMaster combines beacon data with real‐time data feeds, registration , gdatabases, integrated maps, incident logs and resource listings ‐ to automate the planning, case management and reporting for rescue operations.* Mission log* Search Planning Search Planning* Contacts* SAR Resource Tracking* Survival Models* Incident Forwarding* Weather Information* Automated drift calculations.


• SAR Intelligence



In SAR, the information on the target and the people affected is “intelligence”. Intelligence gathering also includes information on assets

and resources that may assist.

Prior to operations – building up & identifying sources of information & dataPrior to operations – building up & identifying sources of information & data During operations – tapping into the information and data

Once the alert has been raised the SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION COORDINATOR requires:

• Nature and Position of the emergency. Weather conditions. • Name of vessel or aircraft, type, call sign, registration. • Full description (size, type, color, markings, unusual features). • Persons on board. • Communications equipment.Communications equipment. • Emergency, safety and survival equipment. • Owner and agent for the aircraft/vessel and contact information. • Other possible sources of information – family.


SAR Response to a COSPAS‐SARSAT Alert



406 MHZ beacon Alerts‐ Un‐located on the first alert1 )Begin utilization of SAR Intel

A) Check databaseB) Call SPOCsC) Check for ATS/VTS/GMDSS info

2) A&B solution on the first LEO pass3) Dispatch SRU when unable to determine extent of distress or if

indications of distress exist4) Continue to provide position updates to SRU until resolved5) Upon completion of case, provide incident feedback to MCC


• Feedback to MCC



The primary purpose of the feedback is to help evaluate the effectiveness of the overall SARSAT system.Additional benefits are found in the simple existence ofAdditional benefits are found in the simple existence of historical records both for general use as well as specific assistance in resolving incidentals involving newly activated distress beacons.Information and statistics are presented to multiple International forums.• IMO/ICAO/• COSPAS‐SARSAT Councils• National SAR Committees





Integrating Cospas Sarsat in SAR Operations.SAR Point of contact’s ( SPOC’S )

Minimum requirements to receive alerts:

DATE: 17 MAY 10 1301Z FROM: MCC UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO : FORMAT FILE: RCC406N.FMT 1. DISTRESS COSPAS‐SARSAT NOTIFICATION OF COUNTRY OF BEACON REGISTRATION

2. MSG NO: 04428 UAEMCC REF: BADA1C3484014D0

phone line and facsimile machine

to receive Cospas‐Sarsat SIT

message alerts: SIT 185

3. DETECTED AT: 17 MAY 10 0605 UTC BY SARSAT S09 4. DETECTION FREQUENCY: 406.0228 MHz 5. COUNTRY OF BEACON REGISTRATION: 470/ UAE 6. USER CLASS: USER/USER LOCATION EPIRB USER RADIO CALLSIGN: RADIO CALLSIGN: TEST005

7. EMERGENCY CODE: NIL g8. POSITIONS:

RESOLVED ‐ NIL DOPPLER A ‐ 24 26 N 054 38 E PROBABILITY 95 PERCENT DOPPLER B ‐ 28 15 N 037 16 E PROBABILITY 05 PERCENT ENCODED ‐ 00 00 00 N

‐ 000 00 00 E ENCODED ‐ UPDATE TIME UNKNOWN

9. ENCODED POSITION PROVIDED BY INTERNAL DEVICE 10. NEXT PASS TIMES (UTC):

RESOLVED ‐ 17 MAY 10 1306 DOPPLER A ‐ 17 MAY 10 1306 DOPPLER B ‐ 17 MAY 10 1306 ENCODED ‐ NIL

11. HEX ID: BADA1C3484014D0 HOMING SIGNAL NIL

12. ACTIVATION TYPE: NIL 13. BEACON NUMBER ON AIRCRAFT OR VESSEL NO: 0 14. OTHER ENCODED INFORMATION: NIL 15. OPERATIONAL INFORMATION: NILLUT ID: NILUT ABUJA, NIGERIA

16. REMARKS: NIL





Integrating Cospas Sarsat in SAR Operations

USE of FAX.


• Some Final Thoughts



• Some Final Thoughts

* SRR boundaries are not meant to be barriers to* SRR boundaries are not meant to be barriers to providing assistance or cooperation.

* The concept of ‘‘first RCC’’ has been developed to p pshow how an RCC that receives a distress alert has responsibility to do what it can to acknowledge the alert and arrange assistance until it can identifyalert, and arrange assistance, until it can identify another RCC willing and better able to respond.

(IAMSAR Volume 2, Sections 2.25.1 & 3.6 provides additional discussion)


Recommendations :



Recommendations :

S CC d i i kSetup RCCs and communication network through out the Gulf region and use SARMaster

i d di l di i l h dito receive and display on digital map the distress beacon data from SAMCC AND AEMCC.


RCCs in the Gulf Region



RCCs in the Gulf Region



GCC CommitteeMutual agreements

UAE MCC‐RCCKSA MCC‐RCC

OMAN RCCQATAR RCCBHRAIN RCCKUWAIT RCC


• Pictures of Abu Dhabi RCC/MCC



Pictures of Abu Dhabi RCC/MCC



GEO LUTLEO LUTLEO LUTMCCSARMaster Server



GEO DISH



RCC OPS ROOM


By Capt Mohammed Almansoori



By Capt Mohammed Almansoori

Head Of Operation and Training Section.

b h bi CCAbu Dhabi RCC.

Tel :+971 50 2104104

Email : almansoori@uae‐jrcc.ae

rescue coordination centers (rccs) and sar points of ... · persons in distress. ((,iamsar, volume...

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