General Description

The majority of SAR mission responses require either aeronautical or surface maritime response units to proceed to the scene, to search and subsequently rescue survivors of the incident. There are occasions when the SAR Mission Coordinator will require to appoint an On Scene Coordinator (OSC), that is, the Commander of a vessel or aircraft, to assume delegated local or bronze level command at the scene. This course will study the role and responsibilities of both the SMC and OSC and the desired relationship between the two individuals. The OSC can offer substantial value to the outcome of any incident, however, if those chosen for the role have not received effective training, positive value will be less easily achieved.

Course Aim

The On Scene Coordination Course aims to study the role and responsibilities of the OSC and how the interaction between SMC and OSC can be managed to best effect. By the end of the course the students will have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required of an OSC and will have practiced the application through participation in a number of practical exercises.

Prerequisite Knowledge or qualifications

The student should have a good knowledge, and if possible experience, of radio communications. They should also have experience of attending the scene of SAR incidents as the commander or senior officer of a surface or airborne response facility.
The course will be delivered using the English Language, and students should be orally fluent in its use. With proper notice, it may be possible to organise an interpreter service should the client deem this necessary.

Target Audience

This course is designed for both aeronautical and surface declared response facility crews. It will also be invaluable to deck officers of vessels which are frequent visitors to the ports of a sponsoring Nation. These vessels are more likely to become involved in SAR, since they may occasionally be able to respond to distress or urgency calls for assistance. All SAR Senior Managers, either those of the rescue coordination centre or those of response facility parent organisations should experience this course at least once to gain a sufficiently detailed knowledge of the resources and processes required during SAR response.

Detailed Course Content

• Origins and concept of SAR operations
• Role and responsibilities of the SMC and Rescue Co-ordination Centre
• Role and responsibilities of the OSC
• SAR asset categorisation
• Asset types and capabilities
• Choice of assets for SAR missions
• Relationship OSC v SRU Commander
• Relationship OSC v SMC
• Information flow and SAR SITREPS
• SAR communications plans
• Criteria for OSC platform
• Interpreting SMC plans
• Search planning concepts
• Area coverage
• SRU safety
• Search techniques
• Rescue techniques
• Suspension or termination of SAR activity