2 Requirements
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.864 – Guidelines for Preparing Plans for Co-operation between Search and Rescue Services and Passenger Ships on Fixed Routes (in accordance with SOLAS Regulation V/15(c)) – (Adopted on 22 May 1998) - Annex - Guidelines for Preparing Plans for Co-operation between Search and Rescue Services and Passenger Ships on Fixed Routes (in accordance with SOLAS Regulation V/15(c)) - 2 Requirements

2 Requirements

  2.1 regulation V/15 of the 1995 SOLAS amendments reads:

“Search and Rescue

  • (a) Each Contracting Government undertakes to ensure that any necessary arrangements are made for coast watching and for the rescue of persons in distress at sea around its coasts. These arrangements should include the establishment, operation and maintenance of such maritime facilities as are deemed practicable and necessary having regard to the density of seagoing traffic and the navigational dangers and should, so far as possible, afford adequate means of locating and rescuing such persons.

  • (b) Each Contracting Government undertakes to make available information concerning its existing rescue facilities and the plans for changes therein, if any.

  • (c) Passenger ships to which chapter I applies, trading on fixed routes, shall have on board a plan for co-operation with appropriate search and rescue services in event of an emergency. The plan shall be developed in co-operation between the ship and the search and rescue services and be approved by the Administration. The plan shall include provisions for periodic exercises to be undertaken as agreed by the passenger ship and the search and rescue services concerned to test its effectiveness."

  2.2 Article 12(2) of the Convention of the High Seas, 1958 reads:

 "Every coastal State shall promote the establishment and maintenance of an adequate and effective search and rescue service regarding safety on and over the sea and - where circumstances so require - by way of mutual regional arrangements co-operate with neighbouring States for this purpose."

  2.3 The International Safety Management (ISM) Code reads:

 Preamble:

  • “3 The Assembly ... recognised the need for appropriate organisation of management to enable it to respond to the need of those on board ships to achieve and maintain high standards of safety and environmental protection.

  • 4 Recognising that no two shipping companies or shipowners are the same, and that ships operate under a wide range of different conditions, the Code is based on general principles and objectives."

 Chapter 1; paragraph 1.4.5:

 "Every Company should develop, implement and maintain a safety-management-system (SMS) which includes ... procedures to prepare for and respond to emergency situations ..."

 Chapter 8 (emergency preparedness); paragraphs 8.1 to 8.3:

  • “.1 The Company should establish procedures to identify, describe and respond to potential emergency shipboard situations.

  • 2 The Company should establish programmes for drills and exercises to prepare for emergency actions.

  • 3 The SMS should provide for measures ensuring that the Company's organisation can respond at any time to hazards, accidents and emergency situations involving its ships."

 Chapter 12; paragraph 12.2:

 "The Company should periodically evaluate the efficiency of and, when needed, review the SMS in accordance with the procedures established by the Company."

  2.4 The High Speed Craft (HSC) Code reads:

 Chapter 1 (General requirements); paragraph 1.2.7:

 ".... in the intended area of operation there will be suitable rescue facilities readily available ..."

 Chapter 18 (Operational requirements); paragraphs 18.1.3.15, 18.1.3.18.3 and 18.1.3.19:

  • "The Administration should issue a Permit to Operate High Speed Craft when it is satisfied that the operator has made adequate provisions from the point of view of safety generally, including ...
  • communication arrangements between craft, coast radio stations, base ports radio stations, emergency services and other ships, including radio frequencies to be used and watch to be kept ...
  • the existence and use of adequate instructions regarding ... action in the event of reasonable foreseeable emergencies; and
  • provision of contingency plans by operators for foreseeable incidents including all landbased activities for each scenario. The plans shall provide operating crews with information regarding SAR authorities and local administrations and organisations which may complement the tasks undertaken by crews with the equipment available to them."
Parent topic: Annex - Guidelines for Preparing Plans for Co-operation between Search and Rescue Services and Passenger Ships on Fixed Routes (in accordance with SOLAS Regulation V/15(c))
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