contact us | site help | site map
levies and fees | publications | forms

Corporate information

• Annual Reports
• 2007 - 2008
• 2006 - 2007
• 2005 - 2006
• 2004 - 2005
• 2003 - 2004
• 2002 - 2003
• 2001 - 2002
• 2000 - 2001
• 1999 - 2000
• Business Policy
• Corporate Plan
• Employment Opportunities
• Certified Agreement
• File listings
• Tenders

Organisational structure

AMSA Offices

Legislation

Related links

Service charter

Freedom of Information

Media releases

Conferences

You are here: Home >

Contents>     Next>

AMSA outcome 2:
Maximising the number of people saved from maritime and aviation incidents

Output 2.1: A capability to detect, locate and rescue persons in maritime and aviation distress situations

AMSA’s Emergency Response Division delivers this output by:

• Providing a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre servicing the internationally agreed Australian Search and Rescue Region for the aviation and maritime sectors.
• Assuming coordination of maritime and aviation incidents.
• Maintaining maritime distress and safety communications services that meet the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and can be used by suitably equipped non-SOLAS vessels.
• Maintaining a ship reporting system (AUSREP) that meets the requirement of the SOLAS Convention.
• Providing training and specialist search and rescue equipment to selected general aviation operators designated as Search and Rescue Units (SRUs) around Australia.
• Contributing to international and national issues of significance concerning aviation and maritime search and rescue activities, maintaining and enhancing strategic relationships and increasing public awareness of maritime safety issues.

Operating Environment 2003-2004

During 2003-2004, AMSA’s delivery of Output 2.1 in relation to maritime and aviation search and rescue was influenced by the following external factors.

• International decision to cease satellite processing of 121.5 MHz distress beacon alerts from 2009.
• Increased uptake of 406 MHz distress beacons requiring management of registration data base.
• Impact of aviation regulatory reform and airspace management changes on search and rescue operations.
• Potential demand for search and rescue response at the extent of Australia’s search and rescue region with increased Antarctic flights and adventurers travelling to more remote locations
• Increased demand by government agencies for vessel location information for purposes of security and safety and development of ship monitoring and communication technologies.
• Stakeholders continued demand for improved efficiency in the provision of search and rescue resources.
• Strengthened relations with State and Territory Police Services providing search and rescue services.
• Continuing need to improve safety awareness for fishing vessels and small craft to reduce search and rescue demand from this sector.

AMSA’s Response to the Operating Environment

In response to these external factors in the operating environment, AMSA identified the following objectives and underpinning responses and priority actions to focus its work during 2003-2004 on achievement of the portfolio outcome of a better transport system for Australia.

Objective 2: A better transport system for Australia by Australia providing an effective search and rescue service over the Australian search and rescue region in accordance with international convention obligations and a safety communications services network.

AMSA Response 2.1: AMSA to continuously improve its search and rescue coordination arrangements with other agencies.

Priority Actions for Response 2.1

Maintain Rescue Coordination Centre and maritime distress and safety communications network

During 2003-2004, AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre processed 9,791 incidents, with 2,976 of these incidents involving distress beacon activations. There were 481 incidents requiring the Rescue Coordination Centre to coordinate search activity. Overall, a total of 353 people were rescued, which represented a success rate of 98 per cent of lives assessed as being at risk. (A person is defined as being at risk if the person has a chance of surviving the initial incident.) While AMSA’s target is to rescue 100 per cent of people whose lives are assessed as being at risk from the initial incident, there were several situations where the potential to survive the incident was marginal and/or survival time would have been limited in the circumstances.

The 2004 Federal Budget provided AMSA with an additional $18.9 million funding package over four years for initiatives to strengthen its search and rescue capability. One of these initiatives is the upgrading of AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre, with a focus on improving communication and search coordination systems to enhance interaction of strategic information with aircraft and other search and rescue agencies, particular police services. This will involve changes in the layout and equipment in the Centre and further development of interactive information technology. It is anticipated that the major part of the redevelopment will be completed by late 2005.

AMSA discharges Australia’s responsibility for providing maritime distress and safety communications services, in accordance with the SOLAS convention through management of two contracts with providers of terrestrial and satellite services, respectively. The terrestrial services contract with THL (Australia) Pty Limited and the INMARSAT satellite services contract with Xantic Sales BV were provided with only minor disruptions to service during 2003-2004. The high target levels of availability were achieved. SingTel, the operator of the Singapore Land Earth Station, has a separate arrangement with AMSA for backup services in case of an outage at the Land Earth Station Perth, which is operated by Xantic Sales BV.

As NAVAREA X Coordinator, AMSA continued to provide Australian coastal navigation warnings to the network of State and Northern Territory Limited Coast Radio Stations operated to provide HF and VHF voice radio services for small craft.

Satellite distress alerting is provided by the Cospas-Sarsat system. The Australian Cospas-Sarsat ground segment is maintained through a contract with EMS Pacific. During December 2003, the Bundaberg ground receiver site was struck by lightning during an electrical storm causing a service outage. This meant that the target system availability of 99.5% was not achieved for 2003-2004, with an actual rate of 98.85%.

Pursue development of a framework inter-governmental agreement on search and rescue responsibilities with relevant State and Territory agencies

AMSA has been giving priority to progressing a range of measures to strengthen strategic relationships with other agencies involved in the delivery of search and rescue services, particularly the State and Territory police services. One of these measures has been promoting the development of an Inter-Governmental Agreement on National Search and Rescue Response Arrangements (IGA). The aim is to formalise in a simple and practical way the current agreed division of search and rescue responsibilities between the Australian and State/Territory Governments.

In November 2003, the draft IGA was endorsed by the National Search and Rescue Council, which is the national search and rescue coordinating forum comprising AMSA (chair), the Australian Federal Police, the police service of each State and Territory (usually the search and rescue division), and the Australian Defence Force. The Council authorised AMSA’s circulation of the draft IGA to Police Commissioners for their approval. It was subsequently endorsed by the meeting of the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council in June 2004 for signature by each of the relevant State and Territory Ministers for Police and for the Australian Government by the Minister for Transport and Regional Services, in relation to AMSA’s role in national search and rescue coordination, and the Minister for Justice and Customs, in relation to the role of the Australian Federal Police providing policing services in Australian Government territories.

The IGA strengthens existing coordination arrangements between search and rescue agencies in relation to the provision of aviation and maritime search and rescue services and confirms the primary responsibility of State/Territory Governments for land-based search and rescue services for people on foot or in vehicles. It seeks to formally recognise the structure and role of the National Search and Rescue Council as the principal coordinating body between Australia’s search and rescue agencies and acknowledges the National Search and Rescue Manual, detailing the agreed search and rescue response procedures and coordination arrangements in Australia.

Promote operational procedures and protocols describing the means of coordinating multiple participants in search and rescue activities

AMSA recognised that the IGA arrangements needed to be underpinned with operational protocols covering the procedures for coordination and for providing assistance in relation to search and rescue incidents. AMSA has undertaken an extensive revision of the National Search and Rescue Manual in consultation with State/Territory police services, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Defence Force. The revised Manual was published in September 2003 and is available to parties on the Internet.

The National Search and Rescue Council agreed in November 2003 that the Manual should be used as the national standard reference for search and rescue operations. It also has established an Amendments Working Group, comprising representatives from AMSA, the State/Territory police services, the AFP and the ADF to regularly review the new manual to maintain its currency. Discussions are continuing with Emergency Management Australia on improving integration between the Manual and EMA’s Land Operations Manual, which provides references to search and rescue in a land environment, and for EMA to be a member of the Council’s Amendments Working Group.

Conduct regular meetings, workshops and exercises aimed at improving coordination between participating agencies in search and rescue operations

AMSA has been conducting a program of workshops, exercises and meetings with other search and rescue agencies in each State/Territory to improve coordination and promote cooperation in the delivery of search and rescue services.

Search and rescue workshops involving senior police commanders and other relevant State/Territory agencies are valuable in providing a mutual exchange of briefings about current search and rescue issues and testing coordination of responses by multiple agencies through the use of hypothetical scenarios. During 2003-2004, AMSA conducted a rolling visits program, with planned visits to each State/Territory every second year. Workshops were held with the Queensland Police Service in Brisbane and with the Northern Territory Police Service in Darwin, both during April 2004. The Darwin workshop also was attended by an officer from East Timor, who had previously received AMSA search and rescue training. A workshop for the New South Wales Police Service was held as part of the New South Wales Police search and rescue course at Jervis Bay in June 2004.

AMSA’s National Search and Rescue School assists with the conduct of an annual National Police Search and Rescue Managers Course which brings together AMSA and police search and rescue experts. The course allows for sharing of views with police officers training to be future search and rescue coordinators and builds working relations between course participants. During 2003-2004, the course was held in Canberra in July 2003 attended by fifteen trainees representing each State/Territory police service and the AFP and an international student from New Zealand.

AMSA’s National Search and Rescue School also provides search and rescue coordination training for Australian Defence Force officers designated to perform such functions. Two courses were conducted in Canberra in October 2003 and March 2004. The School also regularly provides instruction and assistance with State and Territory based police search and rescue training courses.

AMSA staff continue to attend, and occasionally organise, operational debriefs after significant search and rescue incidents, or incidents where there are potential lessons to be learned in strengthening search and rescue operations.

Work with the Australian Antarctic Division, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, AirServices Australia and Australian Defence Force to ensure continued effectiveness of Australia’s search and rescue system in remote locations

Australia’s internationally recognised search and rescue region covers 53 million square kilometres and includes the Southern Ocean extending to the Antarctic region. The remoteness of parts of Australia’s region and the lack of ready response resources continue to challenge the search and rescue system. In collaboration with other Australian Government agencies, AMSA seeks to ensure an effective search and rescue alerting and response system is in place. Work continues with the Australian Antarctic Division regarding search and rescue response coordination in the Antarctic Region. AMSA also continues to actively engage the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Airservices Australia, and the Australian Defence Force in various forums regarding the part these agencies play in assisting to provide an effective national search and rescue system in remote locations.

[back to top]

AMSA Response 2.2: AMSA to adopt and promote new technologies to improve the effectiveness of search and rescue services.

Progress the staged public education campaign for the phasing out of satellite processing of 121.5 MHz distress beacons and facilitating the introduction of lower cost and more accurate 406 MHz distress beacons

AMSA is continuing to address issues involved with the international decision to phase-out satellite processing of the 121.5 MHz distress beacons by the global satellite alerting system, Cospas-Sarsat, on 1 February 2009, when only the 406 MHz distress beacons will be processed. A public awareness campaign is underway to alert all relevant agencies and members of the public about the forthcoming changes. AMSA has raised the issue in forums with State and Territory authorities with the aim of reviewing their distress beacon carriage requirements in relevant legislation. AMSA’s national education campaign aims to disseminate information over several years to distress beacon users and promote the benefits of the superior and more accurate 406 MHz beacons.

AMSA has been working with the Cospas-Sarsat organization and Australian beacon manufacturers promoting development of a lower cost (Australian Class 3) 406 MHz distress beacon for use by smaller vessels (less than 300 gross tonnage) and recreational users.

Address the data base management issues arising from increased 406 MHz distress beacon usage

AMSA anticipates that the marketing of lower cost 406 MHz distress beacons will exacerbate the workload and challenges of maintaining a high-quality database, a function currently performed by AMSA. A project to develop a new and modern database commenced in June 2004, for completion during 2004-2005. It is expected that the database will be introduced in two stages, with the first being for internal use and the second introducing functions for beacon owners to maintain their own details via a web-based entry system.

Contribute to the introduction of ship monitoring and communications technologies, including Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) and satellite polling

AMSA operates the AUSREP ship reporting system approved by the IMO under the SOLAS Convention making mandatory provision by certain ships of their position every 24 hours to allow monitoring of ship locations and to confirm the safety of the ship and its crew. If a ship fails to report, checks are made with the ship, its owners, agents, and charterers, and broadcasts can be made to other shipping. If these checks are unsuccessful, a search may be commenced. Instead of sending reports, ship masters may choose to be polled by AMSA using the INMARSAT C satellite system, as described earlier in this report.

Support use of new equipment, such as Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) cameras and specialised distress beacon finding equipment, to enhance search and rescue through provision of equipment and training

During 2003-2004, the three SRU aircraft in Melbourne, Wollongong and Hobart fitted with Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) camera systems have been instrumental in a number of searches. The systems aim to improve night search capability. AMSA also facilitated fitting of specialised distress beacon finding equipment to 17 aircraft during the year. The FLIR and specialised distress beacon direction finding equipment was provided from $1.7 million capital funding in the 2001-2002 Federal Budget. The 2004 Budget funding package included provision for fitting a new dedicated search and rescue aircraft in Darwin with surface search radar and a FLIR camera system.

[back to top]

AMSA Response 2.3: AMSA to continue addressing issues and improving its delivery of search and rescue services

Respond to search and rescue issues arising from aviation regulatory reform and airspace management changes

AMSA monitors the aviation regulatory environment for changes that may impact on its search and rescue operations. The 2004 Budget package provides for AMSA to give assistance to existing contracted search and rescue aviation operators to address new aviation regulatory requirements being introduced in 2005. Measures include increased training, medical testing and developing standard operations manuals for operators. AMSA continues to monitor aviation regulatory reform and airspace management changes to assess their impact on the provision of search and rescue services.

Consolidate the improved Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) Program providing different levels of responsiveness and capability, including resourcing three dedicated search and rescue fixed-wing units

The SRU program continued to be consolidated in 2003-2004 with 63 SRUs provided with equipment and training as appropriate. During the year, 91 training sessions were provided by AMSA to selected general aviation operators around Australia designated as SRUs, which involved training 416 pilots and aircrew. Training also was facilitated for a further 628 air search observers.

The 2004 Budget search and rescue package included funding for a dedicated fixed wing, twin-turbine engine aircraft to be contracted in Darwin on 24-hour standby to provide search services and to deliver emergency equipment. Search and rescue in northern Australia is currently provided by aircraft on an opportunity basis. This will be the first fixed wing twin-turbine engine aircraft dedicated to search and rescue in Australia and is expected to come into operation in 2005.

The Budget package also allows AMSA to support development over the next two years of a drop capability system to deploy emergency supplies from turbine-engine aircraft.

Maintain and enhance staff skills and knowledge and strengthening administrative and operational procedures

AMSA continues to maintain and enhance its staff skills in this area through recruitment and on the job training, and external courses. An important part of maintaining a quality management system is having in place a system for continuous improvement regarding administrative and operational procedures.

Additionally, succession planning arrangements for specialist staff in the Rescue Coordination Centre have been strengthened through the introduction of mentoring arrangements for newly promoted senior officers, and an enhanced program of pre-qualification for senior positions before the positions actually become vacant.

Contribute technical and operational expertise to marine and aviation safety education and awareness, particularly fishing vessels and recreational craft

AMSA has continued its public awareness campaign on the cessation of satellite processing for 121.5 MHz distress beacon alerts from 2009 and the promotion of their replacement by more effective 406 MHz beacons. This has involved considerable cooperation from State/Territory marine administrations, distress beacon retailers and other associated stakeholders in the distribution of brochures advising of the change, including the direct mailing to more than 700,000 registered boat owners. AMSA has created a new web site dedicated to distress beacons that emphasises the benefits of 406 MHz beacons (http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/). Advertisements also have been placed in stakeholder magazines and AMSA has attended Australia’s major boat and airshows promoting 406 MHz beacons and the cessation date for satellite monitoring of 121.5 MHz beacons.

The importance of trip planning by recreational boaters and fishing vessel and aircraft operators, in relation to avoiding mishaps and ensuring early and effective search and rescue services in the case of distress incidents, continued to be a focus of AMSA’s safety education strategy. This involved distribution of brochures, trip planning magnets allowing trip details to be entered and trip planning computer mouse mats.

AMSA in conjunction with marine administrations in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia has acquired a new 90 minute DVD, Safer Recreational Boating, which covers all aspects of small vessel handling and safety, includes segments on 406 MHz beacons and trip planning. This is being made available free of charge.

AMSA also assists the Civil Aviation Safety Authority Safety Promotion Unit in a number of its educational initiatives including providing aviation search and rescue support for the Flight Safety Forum series, which are held in major population centres around Australia each year.

[back to top]

PERFORMANCE REVIEW 2003-2004

Output Group 2: Search and Rescue Program

Output 2.1: A capability to detect, locate and rescue persons in maritime and aviation
distress situations

AMSA maintains a safety communications network and provides a 24-hour search and rescue coordination service over the internationally agreed Australian Search and Rescue Region.

Strategy: Provide a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre. (RCC)
Measure	Performance 2003-2004
Availability of the RCC. (Quality) Target: 100%	During 2003-2003, the RCC was 100% available.
An RCC established that can handle a number of incidents, searches and AUSREP reports distributed evenly over the year. (Quantity) Target: 15,000 incidents, 500 searches, 240,000 AUSREP reports	During 2003-2004, the RCC handled 9,791 incidents, 481 searches, and 258,225 AUSREP reports.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target 2003–2004 estimates: $8.491 million	During 2003-2004, the cost was $8.910 million.
Strategy: Provide a distress and safety communications network.
Availability of each system. (Quality) Target: 99.5%	During 2003-2004, the following availabilities were maintained: Cospas/Sarsat: 98.85% Coast Radio: 99.97% Inmarsat: 99.98%
Number of COSPAS/SARSAT ground segments and Mission Control Centre. (MCC) Target: Two ground receive stations and one MCC	During 2003-2004, two ground receive stations and one MCC were maintained.
Number of Maritime Communications (terrestrial) and Land Earth Stations. (satellite) (Quantity) Target: Two terrestrial and one satellite stations	During 2003-2004, two terrestrial stations at Wiluna, Western Australia, and Charleville, Queensland, and one satellite station at Perth, Western Australia, were maintained
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2003-2004 estimates: $4.469 million	During 2003-2004, the cost was $4.344 million.
Strategy: Provide trained and equipped search and rescue response assets.
Availability of Search and Rescue Units. (SRUs) (Quality) Target: Three dedicated 59 on an opportunity basis	During 2003-2004, three dedicated SRUs and 60 opportunity-based SRUs were available.
Number capable of deploying equipment, searching, rescuing. (Quality) Target: 14 to deploy equipment, 62 to search, 21 to rescue	During 2003-2004, there were 13 SRUs to deploy equipment, 63 SRUs to search, and 29 SRUs to rescue.
Number of trained SRUs. (Quantity) Target: 62	During 2003-2004, there were 63 trained SRUs.
Number of trained pilots and crew. (Quantity) Target: 356	During 2003-2004, a total of 416 pilots and crew were trained.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2003-2004 estimates: $5.679million	During 2003-2004, the cost was $5.933 million.
Strategy: Provide an effective response to search and rescue incidents.
Median time for RCC to initiate response. (Quality) Target: 30 minutes	During 2003-2004, the median time was 29 minutes.
Median time for first unit to commence response action. (Quality) Target: 30 minutes	During 2003-2004, the median time was 22 minutes.
Median time until asset on scene. (Quality) Target: 90 minutes	During 2003-2004, the median time was 15 minutes.
A capability to respond to incidents. (Quantity) Target: Maintain above capability	During 2003-2004, the above capability was maintained.
Median cost per search. (Price) Target: $3,500	During 2003-2004, the median cost per search was $3,640.
Strategy: Maintain and enhance strategic relationships and increase public awareness of maritime safety issues.
Number of issues/problems identified in agreements or programs. (Quality) Target: 0	During 2003-2004, no new issues or problems were identified.
Number of agreements developed or varied satisfactorily. (Quantity) Target: Seven	During 2003-2004, seven agreements were signed, reviewed or varied.
In conjunction with States and Territories, number of education programs supported. (Quantity) Target: Four	During 2003-2004, there were five education programs supported.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2003-2004 estimates: $1.278 million	During 2003-2004, the cost is estimated to be $1.088 million.

 

[back to top]