9 Periodic exercises

  9.1 The regulation requires that the co-operation plan include provisions for periodic exercises to be undertaken to test its effectiveness.

  9.2 Both frequency and type of exercise will depend on the circumstances in which the ship operates, availability of SAR service resources, etc.

  9.3 While it is very important that SAR co-operation arrangements be tested from time to time - by, for example, requesting local SAR service involvement in exercises already being run in accordance with the ISM Code and each ship's safety management system requirements - it is also important that the benefits of such exercises are not diluted by over-exercising or by always exercising in particular ways or with particular authorities. Therefore, the ship should not be required to exercise her SAR co-operation arrangements more than once in any twelve month period.

  9.4 The aim should be to test all parts of the emergency response network realistically, over time. A wide variety of scenarios should be employed; different SAR services should be involved if appropriate; and exercises should be so arranged as to allow all relevant staff (including relief staff) to participate over time.

  9.5 Various types of exercise are acceptable: 'full-scale' or 'live', 'co-ordination', and/or 'communications' exercises^footnote may all be appropriate, so long as the fundamental principle of co-operation between the ship, the company and SAR services is exercised. 'Tabletop' exercises, SAR seminars and liaison exchanges involving ship's personnel, shore-based company emergency response personnel and SAR service personnel can also be beneficial.

  9.6 Exercises should be co-ordinated to ensure efficient use of available resources. The principle of reciprocity applies. If a ship has conducted a SAR co-operation exercise within the last twelve months, she should be deemed by all parties to have fulfilled the requirements of the regulation: the 'SAR service' should be considered a global entity in this context. Likewise, the SAR services of individual states should co-operate to ensure that passenger ships' exercise requirements are distributed between them in a way appropriate to available resources.

  9.7 Exercises conducted under this regulation should occasionally include the passenger ship taking on the role of a SAR facility - and, in particular, the role of On Scene Co-ordinator, if appropriate.

  9.8 Ships which have participated in actual SAR incidents may be deemed to have fulfilled the exercise requirements of this regulation.

  9.9 Exercises conducted under this regulation should be formally recorded by all the main participants (ship, company and SAR service). The record should include at least the date, location and type of exercise and a list of the main participants. A copy of the record should be available aboard the ship for inspection.