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 co-ordinator 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 2013 edition includes the 2010 amendments (adopted by ICAO and approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee at its eighty-seventh session in May 2010 and entered into force on 1 June 2011) and the 2011 and 2012 amendments (adopted by ICAO and approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee at its ninetieth session in May 2012 and entered into force on 1 June 2013). The amendments were prepared by the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue at its sixteenth session in September 2009, seventeenth session in September 2010, and eighteenth session in October 2011, respectively, and were endorsed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR) at its fourteenth session in March 2010, fifteenth session in March 2011, and sixteenth session in March 2012, 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 co-operation with neighbouring States to provide effective and economical SAR services;

• The Mission Co-ordination volume (volume II) assists personnel who plan and co-ordinate 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 co-operate with neighbouring States and to consider their SAR services to be part of a global SAR system.