The regulation IV/5 of SOLAS requires each Contracting Government undertakes to make available, as it deems practical and necessary, either individually or in cooperation with other Contracting Governments, appropriate shore-based facilities for satellite and terrestrial radio communication services. The shore-based facilities in the GMDSS include the following services: • Coast station with VHF/DSC • Coast station with MF/DSC • Coast station with HF/DSC • Transmitters for NAVTEX service • Transmitters for MSI on HF • Inmarsat CES • COSPAS-SARSAT LUT
Regulation V/10 of the International Convention for the Safety Of Life At Sea 1974
•The master of a ship at sea, on receiving a signal from any sourcethat a ship or aircraft or survival craft thereof is in distress, is bound to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress informing them if possible that he is doing so. If he is unable or, in the special circumstances of the case, considers it unreasonable or unnecessary to proceed to their assistance, he must enter in the log-book the reason for failing to proceed to the assistance of the person in distress.
•The master of a ship in distress, after consultation, so far as may be possible, with the masters of the ships which answer his call for assistance, has the right to requisition such one or more of those ships as he considers best able to render assistance, and it shall be the duty of the master or masters of the ship or ships requisitioned to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of persons in distress. •The master or a ship shall be released from the obligation imposed by paragraph (a) of this regulation when he learns that one or more ships other than his own have been requisitioned and are complying with the requisition. •The master of a ship shall be released from the obligation imposed by paragraph (a) of this regulation, and if his ship has been requisitioned, from the obligation imposed by paragraph (b) of this regulation, if he is informed by the persons in distress or by the master of another ship which has reached such persons that assistance is no longer necessary.
Designating an On-scene Commander/Coordinator Surface Search
The appropriate RCC will normally designate one of the rescue unit as OSC/CSS as early as practicableand preferably before arrival at the scene. If it is not practicable, a merchant vessel should be designated as OSC/CSS. If it is not practicable, units involved should designate an OSC/CSS by mutual agreement and inform RCC. Responsibilities of the OSC/CSS when not performed by the RCC: • determine the position, margin of error and search area; • make arrangements of units; • designate search patterns; • designate units to effect rescue when object is located; • coordinate on-scene SAR communications.
Additional responsibilities of an OSC/CSS: • carry out the plan; • modify the plan; • make periodic reports; • maintain detailed record of the operation; • advise RCC to release units when no longer required; • report to the RCC information on survivors.