Improving the co-ordination of maritime search and rescue in the Antarctic Treaty area
The Representatives,
Aware of the increase in vessel traffic, in particular passenger vessel traffic, in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Concerned about the possible risk of accidents involving these ships and the resulting harm to both persons and the environment;
Recalling the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the field of maritime safety and rescue;
Recalling the key outcomes and recommendations from the COMNAP Antarctic SAR Workshops I (Valparaiso, 2008) and the COMNAP Antarctic SAR Workshop II (Buenos Aires, 2009);
Recalling the work of the Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts on Management of Ship-borne tourism (Wellington, 2009);
Recalling Measure 4 (2004) and Resolution 6 (2008);
Recognising the value and importance of the search and rescue systems and procedures established under the auspices of the IMO, in particular as regards the network of Search and Rescue Regions and the corresponding Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC);
Noting that these MRCCs have systems able to maintain the confidentiality of information transmitted by vessels and collected by the Centres;
Wishing to improve the coordination of maritime search and rescue efforts in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recommend:
That their Governments recognise the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of search and rescue efforts by:
1) placing on the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (“the Secretariat”) website regular and up-to-date search and rescue related information, using the most appropriate technical means (e.g. through the Electronic Information Exchange System - EIES), of coastal stations facilities as well as the availability of sea and air assets in the Antarctic Treaty area;
2) making available in advance vessel schedules of national Antarctic programmes and tourist operators to the Secretariat (e.g. through the EIES) which then would be available to all MRCC to access; and
3) encouraging national Antarctic programmes and operators of tourist vessels not participating in the COMNAP and IAATO vessel tracking schemes to report the positions of their vessels regularly to the relevant regional MRCC.
The Representatives,
Aware of the increase in vessel traffic, in particular passenger vessel traffic, in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Concerned about the possible risk of accidents involving these ships and the resulting harm to both persons and the environment;
Recalling the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the field of maritime safety and rescue;
Recalling the key outcomes and recommendations from the COMNAP Antarctic SAR Workshops I (Valparaiso, 2008) and the COMNAP Antarctic SAR Workshop II (Buenos Aires, 2009);
Recalling the work of the Antarctic Treaty Meeting of Experts on Management of Ship-borne tourism (Wellington, 2009);
Recalling Measure 4 (2004) and Resolution 6 (2008);
Recognising the value and importance of the search and rescue systems and procedures established under the auspices of the IMO, in particular as regards the network of Search and Rescue Regions and the corresponding Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCC);
Noting that these MRCCs have systems able to maintain the confidentiality of information transmitted by vessels and collected by the Centres;
Wishing to improve the coordination of maritime search and rescue efforts in the Antarctic Treaty area;
Recommend:
That their Governments recognise the importance of ensuring the effectiveness of search and rescue efforts by:
1) placing on the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat (“the Secretariat”) website regular and up-to-date search and rescue related information, using the most appropriate technical means (e.g. through the Electronic Information Exchange System - EIES), of coastal stations facilities as well as the availability of sea and air assets in the Antarctic Treaty area;
2) making available in advance vessel schedules of national Antarctic programmes and tourist operators to the Secretariat (e.g. through the EIES) which then would be available to all MRCC to access; and
3) encouraging national Antarctic programmes and operators of tourist vessels not participating in the COMNAP and IAATO vessel tracking schemes to report the positions of their vessels regularly to the relevant regional MRCC.
