Coast Guard Search and Rescue Resources
Federal Agency Brings Many Tools to Bear into its SAR Efforts
Oct 9, 2009
Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara recently highlighted in Congressional testimony the capabilities and resources the United States Coast Guard (USCG) brings to its mission of maritime search and rescue (SAR). This Federal agency is renowned for its rescue efforts, prosecuting some 24,000 SAR cases and saving more than 4,000 lives in the year 2008 alone.
The interesting details of Admiral Brice-O’Hara’s comments include a reminder to the public of the role boaters can take in emergency preparedness and her description of the systems in place to effect the search and rescue of mariners in distress.
In a statement from the agency concerning the Admiral’s testimony, Brice-O’Hara says, "… the success of the search and rescue mission relies heavily on mariners doing their part to ensure they are prepared to survive an accident at sea. When mariners are prepared and can sustain themselves until help arrives, our job of rescuing gets much easier, and the mariner’s probability of survival increases considerably. There are many prevention programs that by their very nature support the SAR mission. We would not be as successful in the arena of SAR without the efforts of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program, Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety program, and those members who are involved in marine safety regulatory and standardization efforts. These programs play a crucial role in ensuring mariners are properly equipped and trained to respond to emergencies in the maritime environment."
U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue Systems and Resources
The USCG depends on its people and technology to find and rescue those in peril at sea. Admiral Brice-O’Hara mentioned several of these SAR resources in her presentation to Congress:
- USCG Search and Rescue Coordinators – These skilled personnel are initially trained at the agency’s National Search and Rescue School that has been in operation for 43 years. This school trains SAR Coordinators to aggressively follow leads in search efforts and effectively utilize all information that may available concerning the incident.
- Search and Rescue Optimal Planning System (SAROPS) – SAROPS is a forecasting system used to guide planning of SAR missions. The system is composed of three key components, a graphical user interface, an environmental data server and a simulator. SAROPS utilizes mapping tools, wind and current data to refine its results.
- Self-Locating Datum Marker Buoys – These devices are submerged buoys containing a suite of electronic components that can be deployed by air or ship. These floating buoys provide data on ocean current speed, temperature and direction. The information provides for a better understanding of current behavior and can offer clues to SAR Coordinators on where to search for a missing person in the water.
- 406 MHz Direction Finders – The importance of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) have been detailed here at Suite 101 in the past. Besides transmitting position information to passing overhead satellites, EPIRBs provide a local homing signal that can help direct a potential rescuer to the beacon as they near its location. This feature greatly reduces the time needed to locate someone using an EPIRB in the water.
The Coast Guard brings a number of important resources together to effect the search and rescue of people in distress at sea. The agency is to commended for its success and it will be interesting to see how this technology improves in the future.
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