Circular Letter
COMSAR/Circ.37
GUIDANCE ON MINIMUM COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF MARITIME RESCUE CO-ORDINATION
CENTRES (MRCCS)
(28 February 2005)
1.
The Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue (COMSAR), at its
ninth session (7 to 11 February 2005), revised COMSAR/Circ.18 on Guidance on
Minimum communication needs of Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCCs),
as reproduced at annex.
2.
Member Governments are invited to bring the annexed guidance to the attention
of their SAR Authorities for appropriate action.
3.
This circular revokes COMSAR/Circ.18.
Annex.
GUIDANCE ON MINIMUM COMMUNICATION NEEDS OF MARITIME RESCUE CO-ORDINATION
CENTRES (MRCCs)
1.1.1
The purpose of this guidance is to assist national Authorities who envisage
creating a maritime rescue co-ordination centre, by suggesting the basic
equipment that an MRCC should possess and the minimum communication facilities
that it should be able to provide.
1.1.2
This circular is only an introductory document which cannot replace the
Organizations other relevant documents, (in particular chapter 4 of the
International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual - volume 1:
Organization and Management) or the user guides for systems in use or the technical
manuals for installed equipment.
1.2.1
In terms of communications, an MRCC should be capable of:
.1 receiving
distress calls by the most rapid means available (if possible directly from
ships at sea) in their area of responsibility and acknowledge receipt1;
.2 alerting and
activating search and rescue facilities;
.3 co-ordinating
operations; and
.4 receiving
information from (and transmitting information to) anybody or person concerned,
including in the form of maritime safety information (MSI).2
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1 In the case of alerts
received by radio, the MRCC must acknowledge receipt such that the calling ship
and all other ships concerned know that the MRCC has actually received the
distress call and is dealing with it. The acknowledgement is generally made by
the same system (but not necessarily on the same frequency or the same channel)
as the one by which the distress call was received, except for COSPAS-SARSAT,
where that is not possible. In the latter case, the most appropriate means is
used.
2 Depending on the areas
involved MSI is transmitted either via the International SafetyNET Service (see
2.3 and 3.2) or by NAVTEX which is a dedicated MF NBDP system. NAVTEX
transmitting stations can be accessed by fax or telex or any other means
according to operational arrangements with the station. Due to the fact that a
large number of vessels are not yet GMDSS equipped, MSI have still to be
transmitted orally by HF, MF and VHF in certain areas.
2.1.1
A connection to the general telephone network is essential. Depending on the
centres volume of activity, it may be desirable to have several lines. When
the MRCC is incorporated into a larger complex (government building, naval
base, harbour masters office etc.), it is strongly recommended that the centre
should have its own telephone lines, not going through a switchboard. In any
case, the line, the number of which is published to the public and in IMO
documents to ensure that distress-calls come straight to the centre, must go
direct to the continuously manned operational centre.
2.1.2
An ordinary telephone line clearly allows contact with any telephone subscriber
in the world. It also allows automatic access to a number of means of
communication which allow contact with ships, such as the Inmarsat-A, B and
Fleet 77 systems, provided that the characteristic number of the called ship is
known.
2.2.1
A separate fax connection to the general telephone network is also essential
for an MRCC in order to operate a fax machine. The usefulness of such a machine
should be emphasized, since with a simple telephone line it allows instant
written communication, which facilitates understanding between people who do not
speak the same language. It is easier to translate a written text from a
foreign language than to understand a speaker using the same foreign language
on the telephone. Moreover, fax allows transmission of any sketch, drawing,
map, etc.
2.2.2
It is possible to transmit faxes to or from ships equipped with Inmarsat-A, B
or Fleet 77 ship-earth stations. Inmarsat-C can be used to transmit a fax (text
only) to any shore address but cannot receive faxes from shore.
2.3.1
A connection to the public telex network allows access to the Inmarsat-A, B and
C systems which allows text conversations with an appropriately equipped ship.
Inmarsat-C is mandatory for all ships subject to the 1974 SOLAS Convention in
an A3 sea area, i.e. not covered by VHF or MF, if shipborne HF equipment is not
installed. Messages via the International SafetyNET, the Inmarsat safety
network, are transmitted via Inmarsat-C. MRCCs are authorized (subject to
registration as "information providers", see below) to transmit free
of charge such messages which allow them to call all ships in a given area.
Telex equipment is therefore necessary in an RCC covering an A3 sea area3.
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3 Unless the MRCC is linked to
an X.25 data transmission network which also allows it to access the Inmarsat-C
network.
2.4.1
If the Government concerned so decides, A1 or A2 sea areas (i.e. covered by VHF
or MF respectively) may be created along coasts, by setting up the necessary
installations with digital selective calling (DSC). The MRCC normally keeps
watch on VHF channel 70 and/or the frequency 2187.5 kHz MF. Alerts are received
in written form (printer or screen).
2.4.2
Although this solution is less satisfactory, watch can however be kept by a
radio station on behalf of the MRCC.
2.4.3
Either directly or via a radio station, the MRCC must be able to converse, by
voice, VHF and/or MF as applicable, with the ships involved in search and
rescue operations. The available frequencies must be at least VHF channel 16
and/or 2182 kHz MF (which must be monitored as soon as the centre receives an
alert on channel 70 or frequency 2187.5 kHz). The availability of other
channels or frequencies is recommended so as to have alternative channels or
frequencies.
2.5.1
The MRCC may cover an area close to the coast crossed by a large number of
vessels equipped only with radio installations that do not meet GMDSS
standards, such as ordinary VHF without DSC. It would, therefore, be useful in
this case for the MRCC to be equipped (or have access to) radio installations
which allow them to cover all or part of the area in question. In that case, it
is recommended that watch should be kept by the MRCC (or a body which
immediately informs it of alerts) on channel 16 (for the quoted example).
2.6 COSPAS-SARSAT and
Inmarsat-E satellite alert systems
2.6.1
Alerts coming from the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system are transmitted to the
MRCC mainly by AFTN, telex or fax either from an MCC (COSPAS-SARSAT mission
control centre), or from a SPOC (SAR point of contact), or from another RCC4.
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4 There are in the world a
number of receiving stations (LUT) which receive satellite information and
transmit it to COSPAS-SARSAT mission control centres (MCCs). Each of these
centres is responsible for distributing alerts to SAR services in its service
area. When in a particular country which does not have an MCC, there are
several maritime and/or aeronautical rescue co-ordination centres, one of the RCCs
should be designated as the SAR point of contact (SPOC) for COSPAS-SARSAT
alerts with responsibility to further distribute the alerts to the various RCCs
in the country.
2.6.2
Distress alerts from ships equipped with Inmarsat-E EPIRBs are transmitted to
MRCCs by certain Coast Earth Stations specially equipped to receive these
alerts.
3. ADDITIONAL
MEASURES TO BE CONSIDERED
3.1.1
The authority responsible for setting up the rescue organization, in the light
of the local context of the country concerned, should examine the possibility
of linking, often quite cheaply, with existing networks (Administration, armed
forces telephone networks), in particular the aeronautical fixed
telecommunication network (AFTN), which provides the link with the aeronautical
rescue organization.
3.2 Inmarsat-C ship earth
station
3.2.1
MRCCs that originate SafetyNET broadcast should be provided with an Inmarsat-C
receiver or have another arrangement to monitor the broadcasts they originate
to confirm that the messages are transmitted and received correctly.
4. ACTIONS TO BE
TAKEN BY THE AUTHORITY RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTING UP AN MRCC
4.1 Telephone, fax and telex
links
4.1.1
Obtain the necessary number of subscriber lines from the local network
operator. Lease or buy the necessary equipment.
4.2.1
Contact the Chairman of the International SafetyNET Co-ordination Panel to ask
him to prepare the certificates which will be issued so that the RCC can be
considered as "information provider" and have access to the SafetyNET
network for the purpose of search and rescue.
4.2.2
Ask the local Inmarsat land-earth station operator in the country concerned
about means of calling subscribers on the network.
4.3.1
Obtain authorizations to set up a radio station (or stations) from the
competent national body. Buy and install the necessary equipment. Train the
staff responsible for operating it.
4.3.2
Alternatively, conclude a contract with an operating agency able to provide the
services in question.