Latest developments on search and rescue (SAR) procedures, techniques and equipment are being discussed at a workshop for representatives from five regional maritime rescue coordination centres (MRCCs) in Africa.
The event in Cape Town (13-17 November) is a chance for the countries taking part - Kenya, Liberia, Morrocco, Nigeria and South Africa - to hear about recent changes brought about by modernization of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and about new mobile satellite services.
The regional approach to the provision of SAR services in western, southern and eastern parts of Africa was first proposed at IMO's Conference on Search and Rescue and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, held in Florence, Italy in 2000. Subsequently endorsed by IMO's Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue and its parent body, the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), it recommended five MRCCs along the African coastline to work with 26 sub-centres on the continent and nearby island States to provide search and rescue coverage in an area of the world that lacked an effective search and rescue and GMDSS infrastructure.
Senior-level officials responsible for SAR in the five regional MRCCs updated their counterparts on the status of implementation of SAR services within their respective regions. Further activities relating to sub-regional technical cooperation addressing specific needs will follow.
Director of the South African SAR, Mr Chueu Terrence Mabuela, opened the workshop. It follows the 30th meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/IMO Joint Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime SAR, also held in Cape Town (6-10 November). The Joint group meets annually to develop updates to the IAMSAR Manual which contains guidelines for a common aviation and maritime approach to the organization and provision of search and rescue services.
