ICAO 9731 VOL III PDF

Foreword

The primary purpose of the Mobile Facilities volume (volume III of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR Manual)) is to assist vessels and aircraft in the performance of a search, rescue or on-scene coordinator function and with aspects of search and rescue (SAR) that pertain to their own emergencies. It is intended to be carried on board rescue units, aircraft and vessels.

A new edition is published every three years. The 2016 edition includes the 2015 amendments (adopted by ICAO and approved by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee at its ninety-fifth session in June 2015 by means of MSC.1/Circ.1513), which became applicable on 1 July 2016. The amendments were prepared by the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue at its nineteenth session in September 2012, twentieth session in September 2013 and twenty-first session in September 2014, respectively, and were endorsed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) at its seventeenth session in March 2013 and by the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) at its first session in July 2014, and second session in March 2015, respectively.

The Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.

The IAMSAR Manual is subject to copyright protection under ICAO and IMO. However, limited reproducing of forms, checklists, tables, graphs and similar content is allowed for operational or training use.

Each IAMSAR Manual volume is written with specific SAR system duties in mind, and can be used as a stand-alone document or, in conjunction with the other two volumes, as a means to attain a full view of the SAR system. Depending on the duties assigned, it may be necessary to hold only one or two, or all three volumes.

• 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 neighbouring States to provide effective and economical SAR services;

• The Mission Coordination volume (volume II) assists personnel who plan and coordinate SAR operations and exercises;

The primary purpose of the three volumes of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual is to assist States in meeting their own SAR needs and the obligations they accepted under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These volumes provide guidelines for a common aviation and maritime approach to organizing and providing SAR services. States are encouraged to develop and improve their SAR services, to cooperate with neighbouring States and to consider their SAR services to be part of a global SAR system.