SEARCH PLANNING
Dec 2011
CANADIAN
CANADIANCOAST
COASTGUARD
GUARDAUXILIARY
AUXILIARY- -PACIFIC
PACIFIC
SAR Briefing
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Briefing
The SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC) shall;
• conduct briefings prior to launching or
diverting resources,
• give all relevant details of the distress and all
instructions,
• discuss the mission objective and all
foreseeable hazards.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Briefing
Known risks may include;
• heavy weather,
• poor visibility,
• hazardous bar, sea and swell conditions,
• critical navigation,
• placing personnel on disabled vessels.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Briefing
The most vital information to immediately record
is:
• Location of emergency.
• Nature of distress.
• Number of persons onboard.
• Description of the craft.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Briefing
• Response activity can be started once these
items are known.
• Also, realize that this may be the only contact
made with the distressed craft or reporting
source (e.g., the radio broke, power was lost,
or the boat sank).
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Resource Selection
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Resource Selection
This is dependant upon:
• Expected distance to travel
• Expected distance offshore
• Expected duration of the mission
• Number of potential passengers
• Equipment status
• Day/Night (radar, NVG, lights)
• SRU speed
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Mission Planning
Vessel considerations
• Vessel Capabilities and Limitations
• Vessel Readiness
• Crew Experience and Expertise
• Weather
• Towing Capabilities
• Habitability for crew and passengers
• Ability for helicopters to safely hoist off
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Mission Acceptance
• Coxswains have the ultimate decision to
accept the mission.
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Crew Briefing
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Describes the Mission Objective
Lays out the Duties and Responsibilities
Sets Positive Climate for Teamwork
Allows Improvement Goals
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Operations
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SAR Operations
• Provide assistance to those in trouble.
• Conduct searches of missing vessels and
persons.
• Deliver supplies and equipment to scene.
• Rescue survivors and deliver to safe place.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
SRU Duties
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Prepare for search
Search en-route
Contact OSC 15 min. prior to arrival
Execute search or rescue plan
Maintain communications with OSC
Survivor / Debris / signal notification
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Initial Response
• Without a specific SAR Mission Coordinator
tasking, the first arriving SRU shall;
1. Report on-scene conditions to the SMC
2. Prepare for an initial search of the area
3. Contact other surface SRU’s
4. Contact airborne SRU’s
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
On Scene
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
On Scene
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Report on scene conditions
Deploy a DMB, noting time and position
Watch for Distress Signals
Conduct Searches (Visual & Aural)
Report problems, modifications, in SITREPs
Remain on track
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Distress Signals
• A distressed vessel has a limited number of
visual distress signals, if any at all, and
experienced mariners usually do not activate
these signals until they actually see or hear
an SRU.
• You should consider the use of audible
signals such as an air horn or whistle when
searching for survivors.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Distress Signals
• Pyrotechnic devices ( not distress flares) may
be used to make the SRU’s presence known
to the distressed vessel.
• Any signal used, whether visual or audible,
must not be mistaken by other SRUs as a
distress signal.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Aural Searches
• Aural searches – Surface SRUs should make
every effort to reduce background noises, and
on occasion consider stopping the engines, if
safe, to permit faint calls for help to be heard.
• When searching, if possible, lookouts should
be posted away from the engines and radios.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Reports
• Reports – SITREPs upon arrival on scene
and whenever important information needs to
be passed.
• Operations and position reports should be
made on a regular basis.
• ON TRACK – Stay focused. Search! Don’t
just navigate a perfect search pattern.
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Search Action Plan
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Situation
Search Area
Execution
Coordination
Communications
Reports
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Scanning Techniques
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Block System
Short, regularly spaced eye movements
Do not exceed 10 degrees per movement
Observed for at least 2 seconds
Horizontal, back-and-forth preferred
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Sightings and Identification
• What rescue method using what resources
will be most appropriate, with
1. the prevailing and forecast conditions,
2. number of persons located, out of how many
on board,
3. injured persons and medical urgency,
4. proximity of danger,
5. type of vessel, and how many vessels
6. other vessels in the vicinity
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Sightings and Identification
7. effect of weather conditions on SAR
operations,
8. time of day and other visibility considerations
9. risks to SAR personnel
10.any hazardous materials
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Inability to Help
• Let survivors know you see them, by flashing
searchlights.
• If unable to perform rescue, try and let
survivors know, and collect and transmit all
necessary information which will help allocate
other resources, as listed in section on last
pages.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Night and Reduced Visibility
Searches
• Timeliness of daytime search may prevent
night search.
• Search Tactics will depend upon the SRU and
the search object
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
• Use search lights, whistle, horn and
pyrotechnic devices
• Make rescue vessel’s presence known
• Use all available sensors
• Reduce background noises
• Check buoys
• Post lookouts
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
• Search tactics. Searchers should utilize all
possible means of detecting search objects,
visual, electronic, and aural.
• The following should be considered in the
planning and conduct of a reduced visibility
search:
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
1. The SMC should be fully aware of on scene
conditions, as searches begin and any
changes that occur during the search. Search
units should pass to the SMC (or OSC if one
is assigned), conditions upon arrival on scene
and any changes.
2. At night all unnecessary lighting on search
units should be secured.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
3. If the distressed craft or survivors are known
to have distress signals, it is important for
search units to make their presence known in
hopes of getting the survivors to signal. This
tactic may be most appropriate for early on
searches.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
4. If a debris field is discovered, it may be
appropriate for search crews to use lights or
flares to illuminate the area to enable a better
visual search of the concentrated area.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
5. Ambient light sources should be exploited in
a search.
a. With bright shoreline lights, light colored
objects or objects with reflective material in
particular may be illuminated enough for the
unaided eye to detect, while detection using
NVGs will be greatly improved.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
b. A full or near full moon can also provide
enough light for the unaided eye to detect an
object and greatly improves NVG
effectiveness. The reflection of the moon on
the water also can be used to search for
objects as it “moves” across the surface with
the search unit’s motion. This is particularly
effective in calm conditions with the moon low
in the sky.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
c. Large backlit objects may also provide a
detectable profile when searching along a
well-lit shoreline.
6. Electronic sensors should be set according to
search object.
7. On surface search units the engines should
be secured and all other noise minimized in
order to call out to and hear calls from
survivors.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Tactics
8. Search units should check buoys and fixed
aids in the vicinity.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Electronic Search Methods
Vessels
• Surface Vessel Radar
• Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR)
• Night Vision Goggles (NVG)
Aircraft
• Forward Looking Airborne Radar (FLAR)
• Side Looking Airborne radar (SLAR)
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Survivor Debrief
• Cause of accident or distress;
• Age, physical condition, experience of
survivors and fatalities;
• Determine whether search resources were
seen or heard;
• Times of significant events
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift Theory
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift Theory
• Knowledge of the search object’s drift is very
important.
• The better the drift of the search object is
known, the more likely it will be found.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Datum
• The most probable location of a search object
corrected for drift.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Datum
• The expected location of the search object at
any given time is known as the datum for that
time.
• Datum is a reference position, line or area
that is used as a reference for describing the
distribution of possible search object
locations and for planning searches.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Initial Position
• Where and when a distress event occurred.
• Three ways to identify a position:
1. Position Known (Point)
2. Track Known (Line)
3. General Area Known (Area)
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift
• Drift is the movement of a search object
caused by forces present in the environment.
• Datum is calculated by determining which
drift forces will affect the search object,
selecting the most appropriate ones, and
calculating a vector for each.
• The vectors are then added to determine a
drift direction and speed.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift
• The length of time between the time of the
incident and the desired datum time is then
applied to obtain a drift direction and distance
vector.
• This is added to the initial position to
determine datum using standard navigational
procedures.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift
• Drift distances should be calculated using the
time between the last known position and a
time selected by the SMC.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift Theory
• Two forces cause objects on the ocean to
move or drift:
1. Wind
2. Current
• Attempt to quantify each force affecting drift,
which is best done by vector, with bearing
and length of the vector representing target
direction and speed respectively.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift Theory
LKP
Drift
Total Water
Current
Leeway
DATUM
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Wind
Direction
Drift Theory
• Sea Current (SC) is the residual current when
currents caused by tides and local winds are
subtracted from local current.
• It is the main large-scale flow of ocean
waters.
• Near shore or in shallow waters, sea current
is usually less important than the tidal current
or the local wind-driven current.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift Theory
• Total Water Current (TWC) is the vector sum
of currents affecting the search object.
• The best information on total water current is
usually obtained from a Datum Marker Buoy
(DMB).
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Drift from DMBs
• Information on currents obtained by a DMB
should be used with caution.
• It provides information only while deployed in
the water, and represents total water current
(sea current and wind-driven current) only
during the time of deployment and for the
water area through which it travelled.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Leeway
• Movement through water caused by winds
blowing against exposed surfaces of the
search object.
• Only submerged objects do not have leeway.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Leeway
• Divergence angle:
Divergence of the
drift object from the
downwind direction
due to lack of
symmetry.
• Movement to the
left or right of
downwind.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Conditions and Selecting a
Search Pattern
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Conditions and Selecting a
Search Pattern
Looking into the Sun
• Colours are hard to see
• Eyes fatigue
• Heavy Glare
Looking away from sun
• Colours are easier to see
• Best Light reflection
• Less haze
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Conditions and Selecting a
Search Pattern
Search Leg Orientation
• Maximum target exposure into the seas - run
into seas / swells or away from seas and
swells to have best chance of seeing objects
in the water.
• Minimum target exposure when going parallel
to sea and swell, especially when in the
trough - the search object may be hidden in
another trough.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
• The standard methods used to designate
search areas are:
1. Boundary Method
2. Corner Point Method
3. Center Point Method
4. Trackline Method
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
1. Boundary Method. Any square or rectangular
area oriented east/ west or north/ south can
be described by stating the two latitudes and
two longitudes.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
2. Corner Point Method. This can be used for
any area (except circular areas) that can be
described by stating the latitude and
longitude, or geographical features, of each
corner, in sequence.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
3. Center Point Method. Convenient for
describing all but irregular search areas and
quickly transmitted, this method gives latitude
and longitude of the center point and the
search radius, if circular, or the direction of
the major axis and applicable dimensions, if
rectangular.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
4. Track Line Method. Search areas may be
described in this method by stating the track
and the width of coverage.
The latitude and longitude of start, alteration,
and end points will likely be given.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Describing Search Areas
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How are search areas designated?
The first search areas are A.
When does it become a B search?
When drift is recalculated.
B2
A1
A2
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
Major Axis
Minor Axis
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
• Commence Search Point (CSP) is the
location in the search pattern where the SRU
begins searching. Specifying the CSP allows
the SRU to efficiently plan the en route track,
and ensures that SRUS are separated and
that the SRU begins search at the desired
point and time.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Commence Search Point Guidance
• All factors, including environmental conditions
and available resources, should be carefully
considered when determining where to place
the commence search point (CSP) for
particular search areas.
1.Creeping Line Single-Unit (CS). The CSP is
located 1/2 track spacing inside the corner of
the search area.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
2. Parallel Search (PS) The CSP is located 1/2
track spacing inside the corner of the search
area.
CSP
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
• Search Leg is the long leg along the track of
any pattern.
• Cross Leg is the connection between two
search legs.
Search Leg
Cross
Leg
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
• Track Spacing. Track spacing (S) is the
distance between adjacent parallel search
legs.
• The desired track spacing is a function of
corrected sweep width, which is a measure of
detection capability and will vary with search
object type and environmental conditions,
and the desired coverage.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
• For a given desired coverage, the more
difficult an object is to detect, the closer
together the search legs must be.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
• Sweep Width is a measure of detection
capability based on search object and sensor
characteristics, weather, and other factors.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Planning
Nomenclature
• Direction of Creep
• Creep is the general direction in which an
SRU moves through a rectangular or square
area, normally the same direction as the
cross legs.
Creep
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Designation
• First letter designates the Pattern Type:
P
Parallel track
V
Sector
C
Creeping line
B
Barrier
S
Square
T
Trackline
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Designation
• Second letter designates number of rescue
units
S
Single unit
M
Multi-unit
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Designation
• Third letter can designates which whether the
search is on the out leg only or return
N
Not return
R
Return
• This generally applies only to the trackline
search where the Not Return will follow the
track, while the Return will pass down one
side of the track, and return up the other side
of the track.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
What is your…..
• datum?
• search object?
• search area?
• search units?
• environmental
• detection aids?
Point, Line, Area?
Large or Small ?
Large or Small ?
Number & speeds ?
Fair or foul conditions?
Visual, Radar, NVG?
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
• Search pattern selection depends on many
factors, including accuracy of datum, search
area size, number and capabilities of SRUs,
environmental conditions, size of search
target, and type of survivor detection aids.
• While the factors are interrelated, some may
be more important than others.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
• The SMC should satisfy the more important
factors while meeting others as nearly as
possible.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Trackline Search
• Trackline Patterns (T) are used when the
intended route of the search object is known.
• The trackline pattern is a rapid and
reasonably thorough coverage of the missing
craft's proposed track.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Parallel Search
• Criteria
• Used to cover large search areas.
• Provides uniform coverage.
• Only an approximate initial position is known.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Creeping Line Search
• Used to cover one end of an area first
or
• To change direction of the search legs.
• CSP is located 1/2 track spacing inside the
corner of the search area.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Sector Search
• Datum is established within close limits.
• High coverage is desired in the immediate
vicinity of datum.
• Area to be searched is not extensive.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Expanding Square Search
• Used to search a small area.
• Some doubt exists about the distress position
• Provides uniform coverage.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Barrier Search
• Where strong currents exist.
• Containment of Datum is paramount.
• Major axis is perpendicular to the direction of
drift.
• The SRU runs back and forth along the down
current end of the search area.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Search Pattern Selection
Shoreline Search
• For small vessels for close inspections of the
terrain.
• Ensure vessels are aware of navigational
hazards or constraints.
• Consider the possibility of survivors clinging
to navigational aids such as buoys, or to
rocks offshore.
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC
Initial Track Spacing
Search Object
Good Conditions
Winds < 15 knots
Seas < 3 feet
PIW
0.1nm*
Vessel < 15 feet 0.5nm
Vessel >15 feet 1.0nm
Poor Conditions
Winds > 15 knots
Seas > 3 feet
0.1nm*
0.2nm
0.5nm
* or >0.1 depending on SRU’s minimum navigational
accuracy and manoeuvring capability
CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC