Page 52 - Oil&Gas-AustralAsia-2015-Issue-5

M ARITIME
HARMONISING AERONAUTICAL AND
MARITIME SEARCH & RESCUE (SAR)
By Capt Martin A. SEBASTIAN RMN (R) & Mohd Ikmal bin Abu.
Abstract
The loss of MH370 and the crash of
QZ8501 has called for a relook in Aero-
nautical and Maritime Search and Res-
cue (SAR). The ASEAN Regional Forum
(ARF) has called for the strengthening of
SAR responses a coordination. Inter-
national Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) manuals
call for a Global SAR system. The Inter-
national Civil Aviation Organisation
(ICAO) Convention of Civil Aviation
1944 Annex 12 (SAR) and Internation-
al Maritime Organisation (IMO) SAR
Convention 1978 has created distinct
approaches on SAR. In light of that, the
ICAO-IMO Joint Working Group (JWG)
on Harmonisation was established in
1993, with the objective of assisting
ICAO and IMO in developing provisions
regarding new search and rescue tech-
niques and procedures where both aer-
onautical and maritime interests were
involved. The JWG is currently working
on a new version of IAMSAR to be
published in 2016. The Asia Pacific has
as well created the Asia Pacific SAR (AP-
SAR) Task Force where APSAR TF has
met three times on issues relating to Aer-
onautical and Maritime SAR. The Asia
Pacific Regional SAR Plan. Separately,
ASEAN concluded a meeting within the
ASEAN Transport Ministers Working
Group on the Harmonisation of SAR in
March 2014 to draft a regional aero-
nautical and maritime SAR agreement.
In spite of international, extra regional
and regional efforts, many States in the
region are yet to harmonise aeronautical
and maritime SAR architectures. The
Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA)
is leading an Asia Pacific study group
to develop policy recommendations to
States in Harmonising Aeronautical and
Maritime SAR.
Introduction
The year 2014 showcased the need
to revisit aeronautical and maritime
SAR in light of the catastrophe of the
MH370 and QZ8501 incidents. These
events stamped an important milestone
for Malaysia and ASEAN especially in
term of strengthening coordination and
A A50 OIL & GAS ustral SIA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 www.oilandgasaustralasia.com
cooperation of SAR. During the MH370
SAR operation, Malaysia was heavily
criticized on the handling of the SAR
operation. CNN reported six major mis-
takes by Malaysia Government in han-
rdelpinogrttehdisthinactitdheenrt1elwathivileesTohfethGeuiallrdfaiatend and information dissemination between
passengers, both in China and Malaysia
were furious by the way the government
addressed the issue especially on the
initial loss of the airliner2.
Several aspects of SAR needs to be
harmonized by States as follows.
1. Area of Responsibilities.
The International Civil Aviation Organ-
isation (ICAO) has defined the Flight
Information Region (FIR) as the area of
responsibility for respective State aero-
nautical SAR. The International Mari-
time Organisation (IMO) has defined
the Search and Rescue Region (SRR) as
the areas for respective State maritime
SAR. However, there are major issues in
both these areas especially in the bound-
aries concerned. States have to resolve
these through bilateral or multilateral
agreements.
2. SAR Organisation
The need for Joint Rescue Coordination
Centre (JRCC) is stronger now as com-
pared to separate Aeronautical Rescue
Coordination Centres (ARCC) and
Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres
(MRCC). There a tremendous benefits in
having both RCCs co-located.
3. Coordination Processes
Since coordination is the key to SAR,
it will be vital to harmonise existing
structures in strengthening coopera-
tion and coordination especially where
interoperability is concerned. The
IAMSAR Manual provides guidance to
states through a ‘self-assessment’ form.
States may wish to conduct their own
self assessment in recognising the need
to strengthen cooperation and coordi-
nation of SAR. Coordination can range
from the search and recovery; logistic
coordination with respects to regional
and global assistance being provided and
coordination of information pertinent to
the overall activity.
1http://edition.cnn.com/2014/04/01/world/asia/malaysia-plane-missteps/
2http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/25/mh370-relatives-anger-malaysia-building-weeks-protests-china
3. Technological Enablers
Technology is a great enabler in the SAR
Operation either been fitted onboard
SAR Unit (SRU) or shore based RCCs.
It will catalyze the process of searching
SRUs and RCC. Distinct alert and com-
munication systems between aeronau-
tical and maritime distress systems
require harmonization.
4. Information Sharing
During SAR operations, one of the
most important elements that cannot be
neglected is the information element.
Information is not only needed in the
SAR but also needed for the ancillary
support requirements and the general
public on the situation. The distinct aer-
onautical and maritime systems needs to
be harmonized in order to achieve better
flow of information.
5. Capacity and Capability Building
Distinct approaches in capacity and
capability building in civil aeronautical
and maritime SAR, military combat SAR
and volunteer SAR entities need to be
harmonized to achieve a common pur-
pose. Interoperability and defined stand-
ards will be required when a calamity
or a catastrophe happens. Standards in
competencies and assets will come in
handy for SAR planning and response.
Simulation exercises involving Stake-
holders will be vital to achieve timely
and appropriate responses.
6. Conclusion
In the aftermath of the recent incidents,
it is even more pertinent to call for the
strengthening of SAR, especially in
the national context. “Charity begins
at home”, and therefore, it is important
to begin harmonization at the national
level before regional, extra regional and
global efforts are mooted. It is hoped
that States with distinct approaches on
aeronautical and maritime SAR start
identifying areas for harmonization
in order to strengthen cooperation
and coordination in aeronautical and
marime SAR, in accordance to the needs
of the IAMSAR Manuals to develop an
effective Global SAR System.§