You are here: Home >

Output 2: Search and Rescue Program

AMSA, 15th Annual Report, 2004 - 2005

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

This output covers AMSA’s responsibility for maintenance of safety communications services and provision of a 24-hour search and rescue coordination service over the internationally agreed Australian Search and Rescue Region.

It comprises the following five sub-outputs:

Sub-Output 2.1.1: Provide a 24-hour Emergency Response Division Centre

This Sub-Output covers AMSA’s provision of the infrastructure and trained search and rescue personnel for Australia’s national Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) with capability of receiving and responding to notification of distress incidents, coordinating searches for persons in maritime and aviation distress incidents and administering the AUSREP ship reporting service.

Sub-Output 2.1.2: Provide distress and safety communications services

This Sub-Output covers AMSA’s provision of maritime distress and safety communications services that meet the requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and also can be used by suitably equipped non-SOLAS vessels for the rapid alerting of search and rescue authorities to a distress situation at sea.

Sub-Output 2.1.3: Provide trained and equipped search and rescue assets

This Sub-Output covers AMSA’s provision of training and specialist search and rescue equipment to selected general aviation operators designated as Search and Rescue Units around Australia which can be tasked by AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre to undertake search and rescue operations.

Sub-Output 2.1.4: Provide an effective response to search and rescue incidents

This Sub-Output covers AMSA’s use of the preparedness measures provided under Sub-outputs 2.1.1 (Rescue Coordination Centre),
2.1.2 (distress communications) and 2.1.3. (search and rescue assets) to provide an effective response to people in distress situations.

Sub-Output 2.1.5: Maintain and enhance strategic relationships and increase public awareness of maritime safety issues

This sub-output covers AMSA’s contribution to significant international and national issues concerning maritime and aviation search and rescue, liaising with other agencies to strengthen cooperation and coordination of search and rescue services and undertaking education campaigns on maritime safety and aviation search and rescue issues, particularly general aviation and recreational boating.

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 to fulfil Australia’s obligations under international conventions.
Assuming coordination of maritime and aviation distress incidents.
Maintaining maritime distress and safety communications services that meet the requirements of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention and also can be used by suitably equipped non-SOLAS vessels.
Providing satellite detection of distress beacons through provision of the Australian Cospas-Sarsat ground segment.
Maintaining a ship reporting system (AUSREP) that meets the requirement of the SOLAS Convention and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue.
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 maritime and aviation search and rescue, maintaining and enhancing strategic relationships and increasing public awareness of maritime safety and aviation search and rescue issues.
[back to top]

Operating environment in 2004-2005

During 2004-2005, 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 a larger registration data base;
Impact of changes in the aviation environment on search and rescue operations, including aviation regulatory reform and airspace management;
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 for vessel location information and its integration with other information for purposes of security and safety and development of ship monitoring and communication technologies;
Community demand to maintain effective coordination between search and rescue agencies;
Stakeholder demand for improved efficiency in providing search and rescue resources and incorporation of developing technologies into the search and rescue system; and
Continued need to improve safety awareness for fishing vessels and small craft to reduce search and rescue demand from these sectors.

AMSA’s response to the operating environment

In response to the external factors in the operating environment, AMSA identified the following portfolio objectives and underpinning responses and priority actions to focus its work during 2004-2005 on achievement of the portfolio outcome of a better transport system for Australia.

Sub-Output 2.1.1: Provide a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre

Portfolio Objective: 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 its international convention obligations.

AMSA’s Response 2.1.1-1: AMSA to continuously improve its search and rescue coordination with other agencies.

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.1 during 2004-2005

Maintain Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC)

During 2004-2005, AMSA’s RCC processed 10,785 incidents, with 3,627 of these incidents involving distress beacon activations. There were 538 incidents that required the RCC to coordinate search activity. Overall, a total of 352 people were rescued, which represented a success rate of 97.8 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.

AMSA continues work on upgrading the RCC to an Emergency Response Division Centre from the $18.9 million funding in the 2004 Federal Budget to strengthen AMSA’s search and rescue capability. The RCC’s upgrade aims to improve communication and search coordination systems to enhance interaction of strategic information with aircraft and other search and rescue agencies, particularly police services. This involves changes in the RCC layout and equipment and greater use of interactive information technology. The new centre will cover search and rescue, pollution response and operational response to maritime transport emergencies. The equipment and layout elements of this project are scheduled to be completed by mid 2006, with progressive delivery of software applications to follow.

Progress an inter-governmental agreement on search and rescue responsibilities with State and Territory agencies

The Inter-Governmental Agreement on National Search and Rescue Response Arrangements (IGA) was approved by the Australasian Police Ministers’ Council meeting in June 2004. It was signed by State and Territory Ministers for Police and the Australian Government Minister for Transport and Regional Services, in relation to AMSA’s search and rescue role, and the Australian Government Minister for Justice and Customs, in relation to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) role providing search and rescue services in Australian Government territories.

The IGA strengthened existing coordination arrangements between search and rescue agencies in the provision of aviation and maritime search and rescue services and confirmed the primary responsibility of States/Territories for land-based search and rescue services for people on foot or in vehicles. It formally recognised the role of the National Search and Rescue Council as the principal coordinating body between search and rescue agencies and recognised the primacy of 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

The IGA arrangements are underpinned with operational protocols covering the procedures for coordination and for providing assistance in relation to search and rescue incidents, primarily through the National Search and Rescue Manual. The National Search and Rescue Council, comprising representatives from AMSA, the State/Territory police services, AFP and Australian Defence Force (ADF), agreed that the Manual will be the national standard reference for search and rescue operations.

Emergency Management Australia (EMA) has been approached to improve integration between the Manual and EMA’s Land Operations Manual covering search and rescue in a land environment. It is planned for EMA to become a member of the National Council’s Working Group, which approves updates to the Manual, to assist in integration of the two manuals.

In July 2005, the ADF issued a letter of proclamation advising that the Manual had been accepted by the ADF as the Australian standard procedural guide for coordinating search and rescue activities within the Australian Search and Rescue Region. The ADF is responsible for coordinating search and rescue for all military, including foreign visiting military assets and personnel in the region. The Manual exclusively covers interdepartmental responsibilities and provides guidance for search and rescue operations in a permissive environment, but does not cover combat operations.

Conduct regular meetings, workshops and exercises to improve coordination between participating search and rescue agencies

AMSA conducts 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 2004-2005, AMSA continued its rolling visits program, with planned visits to each State/Territory every second year. Workshops were held with a number of Police Services during 2004-2005 including North East Tasmania and Port Lincoln, South Australia, in August 2004; Orange, New South Wales, in November 2004; Port Philip Bay with Victoria Water Police in March 2005 and at Esperance, Western Australia, in May 2005.

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 latest course was held in July/August 2004 with 15 participants including one international representative from New Zealand. The next course is planned for August/September 2005 in Canberra. These courses allow for sharing of views with police officers training to be future search and rescue coordinators and builds working relations between course participants.

AMSA’s National Search and Rescue School also provides search and rescue coordination training for ADF officers designated to perform such functions. Two courses were conducted in Canberra in November 2004 and March 2005. The School regularly provides instruction and assistance with State and Territory based police search and rescue training courses and staff were provided to the South West Pacific Patrol Boat course held at Launceston.

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. During 2004-05, debriefs were attended at Maroochydore after a light aircraft crash into the sea; in Sydney after a medivac involving the vessel Jasmine Ace 2; and in Wangaratta after the crash of an aircraft at Benalla.

In relation to international search and rescue cooperation, AMSA jointly sponsored a Pacific-region training course with the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs in Canberra during March 2005. The course was designed to improve participants’ understanding of the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system in aiding search and rescue and strengthen the operational interface between agencies in the region. The course was attended by 35 managers drawn from East Timor, Fiji, Kiribati, Malaysia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

[back to top]

AMSA’s Response 2.1.1-2: AMSA to adopt and promote new technologies to improve effectiveness in search and rescue operations

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.1 during 2004-2005

Address database management issues from increased 406 MHz beacon usage

The 406 MHz distress beacon emits a digital signal carrying a code that can be cross-referenced with AMSA’s database of registered
406 MHz beacon owners. This provides search and rescue authorities with an indication of the potential type of distress situation (eg type of vessel or aircraft) so a response can be tailored to the particular emergency. AMSA established the 406 MHz database and register for all Australian coded beacons to meet national needs and to comply with international requirements. An enhanced database capability is being introduced in two stages, with the first for internal use and the second stage introducing functions for beacon owners to maintain their own details via a web-based entry system.

The register includes all types of 406MHz beacons, including Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) designed for use in aircraft, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) used in maritime applications, and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) used by bush walkers, off-road vehicles and land-based adventurers. It is estimated there are about 170,000 121.5 MHz beacon users who will need to transition to 406 MHz beacons by 2009, when satellite processing of signals from 121.5 MHz beacons will cease. AMSA anticipates the rate of annual registration of 30,000 to 40,000 for the years leading up to 2009.

Contribute to the introduction of ship monitoring and communications technologies, including satellite polling

AMSA operates the AUSREP ship reporting system approved by the IMO under the SOLAS and SAR Conventions. Certain ships are required to provide position reports every 24 hours to allow monitoring of their location and to confirm ship and crew safety. 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 message reports, shipmasters can choose to be polled by AMSA using the Inmarsat C satellite communications network. Most ships are fitted with an Inmarsat C system as part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). This equipment can be polled by AMSA as required to provide ship position reports. At the end of 2004-05 approximately 40 per cent of position reports were polled.

Examine potential of new equipment to enhance search and rescue

During 2004-2005, the three SRU aircraft in Melbourne, Wollongong and Hobart fitted with Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) camera systems, which improve night search capability, were instrumental in a number of successful searches. AMSA also has facilitated fitting of specialised distress beacon finding equipment to SRU aircraft. The 2004 Federal Budget included funding for the new dedicated search and rescue aircraft in Darwin to be fitted with surface search radar and a FLIR camera system.

The 2005 Federal Budget included funding to upgrade communications and other search and rescue equipment used by the existing fleet of SRU aircraft. The new equipment includes self-locating datum marker buoys, which are dropped into the sea to assist in predicting the drift of objects (eg survivors or vessels). These buoys transmit their readings directly to the RCC by satellite, whereas existing types of buoys must be overflown by an aircraft to collect data.

[back to top]

Sub-Output 2.1.2: Provide distress and safety communications services

Portfolio Objective: A better transport system for Australia by Australia providing distress and safety communications services meeting it international convention obligations for rapid alerting of distress situations at sea.

AMSA’s response 2.1.2-1: AMSA to deliver distress and safety communications services in line with international standards.

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.2 during 2004-2005

Manage external provider contracts aimed at maximising availability of distress and safety communication services

The GMDSS uses terrestrial and satellite technology and shipboard radio-systems to ensure rapid, automated, alerting of shore based communication and rescue authorities, in addition to ships in the immediate vicinity, in the event of a maritime distress. GMDSS telecommunications also can be used for safety reports as well as distress communications (for instance, ships can make reports under the AUSREP system using the Inmarsat C system).

AMSA discharges Australia’s responsibility for providing maritime distress and safety communications services, in line 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 2004-2005 and achieved the high target levels of availability. 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 operated by Xantic Sales BV.

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

Satellite beacon distress alerting is provided by the Cospas-Sarsat system with the Australian ground segment maintained through a contract with EMS Pacific. During 2004-2005, the target system availability of 99.5 per cent was achieved.

[back to top]

Sub-Output 2.1.3: Provide trained and equipped search and rescue assets.

Portfolio Objective: A better transport system for Australia by Australia maintaining appropriate level of search and rescue assets to respond effectively to maritime and aviation distress situations within Australia’s search and rescue region.

AMSA’s response 2.1.3-1: AMSA to continue addressing issues and improving its delivery of search and rescue services.

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.3 during 2004-2005

Administer Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) Program providing different levels of responsiveness and capability including resourcing dedicated fixed-wing units

The SRU program continued to be consolidated in 2004-2005 with 62 SRUs provided with equipment and training as appropriate. During the year, 88 training sessions were provided by AMSA to selected general aviation operators around Australia designated as SRUs, which involved training 369 pilots and aircrew. Training also was facilitated for a further 211 air search observers.

The 2004 Budget search and rescue package included funding for a dedicated fixed wing turbine twin-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 had previously been provided by aircraft on an opportunity basis.

Following a competitive tender process, the Minister announced in November 2004 the award of the contract to AeroRescue Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Paspaley Group. The new service commenced in February 2005 using a Beech 200T interim aircraft. AMSA provided the crew with training and exercises in search and rescue techniques. A Dornier 328 aircraft is scheduled to commence provision of the full service in October 2005 after it has undergone a modification program including the fitting of specialised search and rescue equipment.

The 2004 Federal Budget is funding AMSA’s development over a two-year period of a drop capability system to deploy emergency supplies from turbine engine aircraft. AMSA is progressing the development of a system capable of delivering a range of search and rescue equipment from the new aircraft. A review of existing and conceptual systems has been completed and a system type selected that is being developed into a prototype for testing, certification and manufacture.

The 2005 Federal Budget provided $54.7 million in funding for four dedicated turbine engine aircraft to be contracted on 24-hour standby for search and rescue operations. It is intended to base three aircraft in Far North Queensland, southwest and southeast Australia, respectively. The fourth aircraft will provide search and rescue operations as well as coverage for maintenance and back up for the other aircraft to ensure continuity of service. Any spare capacity will be available for utilisation by other relevant Government agencies.

The four aircraft are to be capable of day and night search, on-scene coordination, homing to distress beacons and deploying emergency supplies to people in distress. This will substantially upgrade Australia’s national search and rescue capability in terms of range, night search and all weather capacity.

A competitive tender process commenced in May 2005 for a contract to provide at least four full-time multi-engine turbine aircraft with full-time crew at various locations around Australia. An Industry Information Day was held in Canberra on 23 May 2005 to provide detailed information and material on the tender. The tender closed in early July 2005 and AMSA aims to have the new service commencing after mid 2006.

Respond to search and rescue issues arising from changes to the aviation industry and environment

AMSA monitors the aviation regulatory environment for changes that may impact on its search and rescue operations. The 2004 Federal Budget provided funding for AMSA to assist existing SRU operators to address new aviation regulatory requirements introduced in 2005. AMSA continues to monitor aviation regulatory reform and airspace management changes to assess their impact on the provision of search and rescue services.

[back to top]

Sub-Output 2.1.4: Provide an effective response to search and rescue incidents.

Portfolio Objective: A better transport system for Australia by Australia having a search and rescue service available to respond effectively to people in maritime and aviation distress situations.

AMSA’s response 2.1.4-1: AMSA to ensure its resources and systems provide optimal support to the effectiveness of its search and rescue response.

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.4 during 2004-2005

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 RCC (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) have improved the resilience of the centre to deal with peak workloads, unplanned absences and other factors that affect staff numbers from time to time.

[back to top]

Sub-Output 2.1.5: Maintain and enhance strategic relationships and increase public awareness of maritime safety issues

Portfolio Objective: A better transport system for Australia by Australia having an effectively coordinated search and rescue service between Australian agencies and promoting safety awareness to reduce the incidence of people in maritime and aviation distress situations requiring search and rescue services.

AMSA’s response 2.1.5-1: AMSA to continuously improve its search and rescue coordination with other agencies and promote safety awareness on specific issues relevant to reducing the number of search and rescue incidents.

Priority actions in delivering sub-output 2.1.5 during 2004-2005

Work with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Airservices Australia and the ADF on search and rescue in remote areas

Australia’s international search and rescue region covers 53 million square kilometres and includes the Southern Ocean extending to the Antarctic region. The remoteness of parts of the 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 AAD regarding search and rescue response coordination in the Antarctic Region.

In September 2004, AMSA attended an AAD hosted workshop to discuss tourism issues with relevant stakeholders. It reviewed the means of tourism operators demonstrating compliance with the Antarctic Treaty, including having contingency plans, including search and rescue and medical evacuation arrangements. AMSA also continues to actively engage with CASA, Airservices Australia, and the ADF in various forums regarding cooperation in providing effective national search and rescue system in remote locations.

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 continues addressing issues flowing from the decision of the international council controlling the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system to cease processing 121.5 MHz analogue distress beacon signals on 1 February 2009, when only 406 MHz beacons will be detected by satellite. The aim is to reduce the high false alarm rate from analogue distress beacons with up to 97 per cent being false alarms.

An extended public awareness campaign is underway to alert all relevant agencies and 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 to 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.
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 CASA, State/ Territory marine administrations, distress beacon retailers and other associated stakeholders. From an aviation perspective, advertisements of the change have been placed in professional journals and the CASA published Flight Safety Australia magazine that is distributed to all pilot licence holders. Work in the maritime sector has included the distribution of brochures advising of the change, including direct mailing to more than 700,000 registered boat owners and advertisements in boating magazines.

AMSA created a new web site (http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/) dedicated to distress beacons information, which promotes the benefits of 406 MHz beacons. 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.

Contribute to maritime and aviation safety awareness and education

AMSA continues to promote in conjunction with State/Territory marine administrations the distribution of a free 90 minute DVD, Safer Recreational Boating, which covers all aspects of small vessel handling and safety, including segments on 406 MHz beacons. AMSA also assists the CASA Safety Promotion Unit in a number of its educational initiatives from an aviation search and rescue perspective.

[back to top]

Performance Review 2004-2005

Portfolio Outcome: A better transport system for Australia

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

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 services and provides a 24-hour search and rescue coordination service over the internationally agreed Australian Search and Rescue Region.

Sub-Output 2.1.1: Provide a 24 hour Rescue Coordination Centre. (RCC)
Measure	Performance 2004-2005
Availability of the RCC. (Quality) Target: 100%	During 2004-2005, 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 2004-2005, the RCC handled 10,785 incidents, 538 searches and 268,341 AUSREP reports.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2004–2005 estimates: $9.806 million	During 2004-2005, the cost was $10.171 million.
Sub-Output 2.1.2: Provide a distress and safety communications network
Availability of each system. (Quality) Target: 99.5%	During 2004-2005, the following availabilities were maintained: Cospas/Sarsat: 99.9% AMSA HF DSC Network: 99.9% Inmarsat: 99.9%
Number of COSPAS/SARSAT ground segments and Mission Control Centre. (MCC) Target: Two ground receive stations and one MCC	During 2004-2005, two ground receiver 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 2004-2005, 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: 2004-2005 estimates: $4.619 million	During 2004-2005, the cost was $4.652 million.
Sub-Output 2.1.3: Provide trained and equipped search and rescue response assets
Availability of Search and Rescue Units. (SRUs) (Quality) Target: Four dedicated 58 on an opportunity basis	During 2004-2005, four dedicated SRUs and 58 opportunity-based SRUs were available.
Number capable of deploying equipment, searching, rescuing. (Quality) Target: 14 to deploy equipment, 62 to search, and 21 to rescue. There were less SRUs capable of deploying equipment compared to the target as some SRUs transitioned to aircraft unsuitable for deploying equipment. This issue is being addressed with the 2005 Budget funding.	During 2004-2005, there were 12 SRUs to deploy equipment, 62 SRUs to search, and 28 SRUs to rescue.
Number of Maritime Communications (terrestrial) and Land Earth Stations. (Satellite) (Quantity) Target: Two terrestrial and one satellite stations	During 2004-2005, two terrestrial stations at Wiluna, Western Australia, and Charleville, Queensland, and one satellite station at Perth, Western Australia, were maintained
Number of trained SRUs. (Quantity) Target: 62	During 2004-2005, there were 62 trained SRUs.
Number of trained pilots and crew. (Quantity) Target: 356	During 2004-2005, a total of 369 pilots and crew were trained.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2004-2005 estimates: $8.662million	During 2004-2005, the cost was $8.743 million.
Sub-Output 2.1.4: Provide an effective response to search and rescue incidents
Median time for RCC to initiate response. (Quality) Target: 30 minutes	During 2004-2005, the median time was 30 minutes.
Median time for first unit to commence response action. (Quality) Target: 30 minutes	During 2004-2005, the median time was 25 minutes.
Median time until asset on scene. (Quality) Targets: Incident within: • 50 nautical miles of search base: 30 minutes • 50-200 nautical miles of search base: 60 minutes • 200-500 nautical miles of search base: 90 minutes	During 2004-2005, median times were: • 50 nautical miles: 8 minutes • 50-200 nautical miles: 53 minutes • 200-500 nautical miles: 92 minutes
A capability to respond to incidents. (Quantity) Target: Maintain above capability	During 2004-2005, the above capability was maintained.
Median cost per search. (Price) Target: $3,900	During 2004-2005, the median cost per search was $4,080
Sub-Output 2.1.5: 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 2004-2005, no new issues or problems were identified.
Number of agreements developed or varied satisfactorily. (Quantity) Target: Seven	During 2004-2005, three agreements were signed, reviewed or varied.
In conjunction with States and Territories, number of education programs supported. (Quantity) Target: Four	During 2004-2005, there were seven education programs supported.
Cost of the strategy. (Price) Target: 2004-2005 estimates: $1.311 million	During 2004-2005, the cost is estimated to be $1.321 million.

[back to top]

November 2005