• 1. STATE AND UNDERSTAND COAST GUARD
ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITY WHILE
CONDUCTING SEACH AND RESCUE.
• 2. STATE AND UNDERSTAND USCG POLICY AND D1
SAR POLICY.
• 3. AND OVERALL GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF
ALL COAST GUARD SAR POLICIES.
PRIMARY GEOGRAPHIC
DIVISIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY
• 1. ATLANTIC MARITIME
• 2. PACIFIC MARITIME
• 3. AERONAUTICAL PACIFIC
• 4. AERONAUTICAL ATLANTIC
TWO GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF
USCG FOR SAR
• PACIFIC AREA (PAC AREA)
• ATLANTIC AREA (LANT AREA)
THE THREE GENERAL
OBJECTIVES FOR THE SAR
PROGRAM
1. MINIMIZE LOSS OF LIFE, AND INJURY
IN THE MARINE ENVIROMENT
2. MINIMIZE PROPERTY LOSS AND
DAMAGE
3. MINIMIZE CREW RISK DURING SAR
MISSSIONS
TWO SAR PROGRAMS GOALS
• OPTIMIZE USE OF RESOURCES IN
CONDUCTING SAR
• MAINTAIN A WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP
POSITITION IN MARITIME SAR.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR
THE SAR PROGRAM
• AUTHORITY FOR THE USCG TO CONDUCT
SAR MISSIONS IS CONTAINED IN TITLE 14,
SECTIONS 2, 88, 141 OF THE US CODE.
• USCG SHALL DEVELOP, ESTABLISH,
MAINTAIN AND OPERATE SAR FACILITIES
AND MAY RENDER AID TO DISTRESSED
PERSONS AND PROTECT AND SAVE
PROPERTY ON AND UNDER THE HIGH SEAS
AND WATERS SUBJECT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
STATE THE UNDERSTANDING OF
SEARCH AND RESCUE AGREEMENTS
• SEARCH AND RESCUE AGREEMENTS
ARE FORMAL WRITTEN DOCUMENTS
USED TO RESOLVE COORDINATION
PROBLEMS (EX. SUCH AS GUIDANCE
FOR ENTERING ANOTHER AOR OR
PROVIDING SRU’S TO ASSIST
ANOTHER AGENCY OR COUNTRY).
DISTRESS BEACON RESPONSE
POLICY
• REPORTS OF AUDIBLE AND VISUAL
BEACONS SHOULD BE TREATED THE
SAME AS A REPORT OF A ORANGE OR
RED FLARE.
• DISTRESS BEACONS OPERATES ON
406 MGHZ.
FLARE RESPONSE POLICY
• RED AND ORANGE FLARES ARE
RECOGNIZED AS MARINE AND
AVIATION SIGNALS.
• REPORTS OF RED AND ORANGE
FLARES SHALL BE TREATED AS A
DISTRESS SITUATION.
• ONGOING RED AND ORANGE
SIGHTINGS REQUIRE A
FIRST LIGHT SEARCH.
STATE THE DEFINITION OF
FALSE ALARM.
• A FALSE ALARM IS WHEN SOMEONE
OR SOMETHING REPORTED TO BE IN
DISTRESS IS CONFIRMED NOT TO BE
IN DISTRESS AND IS NOT IN NEED OF
ASSISTANCE.
• THE REPORTING SOURCE MISJUDGED
THE SITUATION OR ACCIDENTLY
ACTIVATED A DISTRESS BEACON.
STATE THE DEFINITION OF A
HOAX
• A HOAX IS A CASE WHERE
INFORMATION IS REPORTED WITH
THE INTENT TO DECIEVE.
POLICY FOR CLOSING HOAX OR
FALSE ALARM CASES
• WHEN THE SOURCE OF A HOAX OF
FALSE ALERT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED
THE SMC OR THE SC SHOULD CLOSE
THE CASE.
• WHEN THE SOURCE IS UNKNOWN THE
CASE CANNOT BE CLOSED, ONLY
SUSPENDED.
SAR ASSISTANCE POLICY
• CG PRIMARY CONCERN IN ANY SAR
MISSION IS THAT PROPER, TIMELY,
AND EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE IS
PROVIDED.
• IT IS ALWAYS A CG PRIORITY TO
REMOVE PEOPLE FROM DANGER.
GENERAL SALVAGE POLICY
(OTHER THAN TOWING)
• WHEN NO COMMERCIAL SALVAGE
FACILITIES ARE ON SCENE UNITS
SHOULD ONLY ENGAGE IN SALVAGE
OTHER THAN TOWING WHEN LIMITED
SALVAGE OPS CAN PREVENT A
WORSENING SITUATION OR
COMPLETE LOSS OF THE VESSEL
GENERAL SALVAGE POLICY
(OTHER THAN TOWING) CONT.
• EXAMPLES OF PRUDENT ACTIONS
– UNGROUNDING OF SMALL REC VESSELS
– DEWATERING
– GENERAL DAMAGE CONTROL
• SALVAGE OPS ARE PERFORMED AT THE
DISCRETION OF THE UNITS CO/OINC
• CG’S PRIMARY CONCERN IS SAVING LIVES,
THEN PROPERTY
• THE CG WILL ONLY ENGAGE
IN FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS:
– IN SUPPORT OF A REGULAR
FIREFIGHTING AGENCY
– UNDER SUPERVISION OF
A QUALIFIED FIRE OFFICER
– EXCEPT TO SAVE A LIFE OR IN THE EARLY
STAGES OF A FIRE TO AVERT SIGNIFICANT
THREAT WITHOUT UNDUE RISK
POLICY FOR PERSONS
TRAPPED IN CAPSIZED
VESSELS
• DISTRICT COMMANDER WILL ENSURE THAT
EXPERIENCED SUPERVISORS NOT THE SRU
CREW DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED WITH
RESCUE ATTEMPTS
POLICY FOR PERSONS
TRAPPED IN CAPSIZED
VESSELS
• RECOMMENDED RESCUE PROCEDURES
–
–
–
–
KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE PERSON(S)
STABILIZE THE HULL
ESTIMATE THE VOLUME OF AIR REMAINING
CG SWIMMERS MAY ATTEMPT RESCUE BUT
SHALL NOT DIVE UNDER OR ENTER VESSEL
– INJECT CLEAN AIR IF POSSIBLE
– ONLY IF NO RESCUE IS POSSIBLE,
MAY YOU CONSIDER RE-RIGHTING THE VESSEL.
THE END
BM3 BALDWIN BM3 HEALY BM3 SALAS