Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) - Australia
24 Hour Emergency Contact Numbers
1800 641 792 (Maritime)
1800 815 257 (Aviation)
or
+612 6230 6811 (Maritime)
+612 6230 6899 (Aviation)
About
Australia has a world renowned search and rescue service that spans the nation and covers 52.8 million square kilometres of the Indian, Pacific and Southern Oceans.
The search and rescue service is provided by the Rescue Coordination Centre - Australia, the national search and rescue organisation, which is part of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
Rescue Coordination Centre - Australia
Operating 24 hours, the Rescue Coordination Centre - Australia in Canberra is responsible for the national coordination of both maritime and aviation search and rescue. RCC Australia is also responsible for the management and operation of the Australian ground segment of the Cospas-Sarsat distress beacon detection system.
RCC Australia is staffed by search and rescue (SAR) specialists who have a naval, merchant marine, air force, civil aviation or police service background. RCC Australia also coordinates medical evacuations, broadcasts maritime safety information and operates the Australian Ship Reporting System (AUSREP).
Search and Rescue Procedure
On receiving a distress signal or being notified of a missing civil aircraft or seagoing vessel, RCC Australia will take action to establish the safety of the aircraft, vessel or source of the signal. This action may include:
- coordinating a search and rescue with assistance from organisations as appropriate, such as the Defence forces, trained aviation organisations (Civil SAR Units), emergency medical helicopters, state Police services, state emergency services, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), airlines, the general aviation industry, volunteer marine rescue groups, the Bureau of Meteorology, the shipping industry and fishing cooperatives.
or
- passing coordination to the appropriate regional police organisation to conduct search and rescue operations within their jurisdiction.
Distress Alerts
Traditionally, Australia's SAR authorities have been alerted to emergency incidents through radio distress calls ('maydays'), flare sightings, calls from worried friends or relatives, or the more formal overdue ship/aircraft reports.
This in turn has usually required a painstaking evaluation of many variables such as aircraft endurance, terrain, weather in the area, wind, currents, survival gear carried, and of course, the skipper's experience and likely intentions. Naturally, these sorts of considerations remain very important whenever a search and rescue operation is being mounted.
Satellite System
Today's technology takes most of the 'search' out of search and rescue through the utilisation of satellites and modern radio distress beacons.
Aviators call their radio distress beacons ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters, mounted permanently in the aircraft) or PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons, which are portable and carried on the person). Mariners call their beacons EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and the main difference being that an EPIRB, unlike an ELT, is designed to float upright in water with its antenna pointing upright.
Under the COSPAS-SARSAT international satellite aided tracking system, polar orbiting satellites are able to detect distress signals from radio beacons. As the satellites pass overhead, signals are detected and relayed back to the RCC Australia through ground receiver stations located at Albany, Western Australia, Bundaberg, Queensland, and Wellington, New Zealand.
Accurate Detection
Radio distress beacons operate on 406 MHz with a 121.5 MHz transmission feature being used for final stage homing.
NOTE: After 1 Feb 2010, old analogue EPIRBs and PLBs operating on 121.5 MHz are no longer licenced for use.
The technology of distress beacons is so advanced that the location of the boat, aircraft or individual in distress can be calculated to a search area of as little as 110m with a digital 406 MHz beacon, if encoded with GPS.
A digital 406 MHz beacon can relay much more information than simply the distress location. When registered properly with AMSA, 406 MHz distress beacon can provide the RCC Australia with information such as the registration details of the aircraft, vessel or vehicle as well as emergency contact names and contact numbers. This may allow further information to be gathered relating to the type of craft, survival gear carried and the number of people on board etc. REGISTRATION IS FREE.
After defining the search area, aircraft or other rescue craft rely on homing equipment to locate the beacon's exact position.
It is important that once a beacon is switched on in a distress situation you should not switch it off until rescue has been affected or you are advised to by the rescue authority.
Which type of beacon?
There are 3 types:
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Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) used in ships and boats;
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Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) used in aircraft; and
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Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) for personal use by bushwalkers, four-wheel drivers, other adventurers on land, employees working in remote areas, and crew in boats and aircrew.
EPIRBs are designed to float in the water to optimize the signal to the satellite. An EPIRB is required to operate for a minimum of 48 hours continuously once activated. EPIRBs have a lanyard that is used to secure it to something that is not going to sink so that it can float free.
There have been a number of incidents where vessels have sunk quickly and crew have not been able to deploy an EPIRB. In such incidents. Float-free EPIRBs may have reduced response times and saved lives. Float-free EPIRBs are held in a bracket and fitted with a hydrostatic release that is water activated deploying the beacon automatically if the vessel sinks. If the vessel continues to float then the EPIRB can be manually deployed where a distress situation exists.
NOTE: Although Yachting Australia requires all crew in Category 1 and 2 ocean yacht races to carry a PLB when on deck, an EPIRB must also be carried in the yacht. Likewise, PLBs are not considered a substitute for EPIRBs when adhering to State and Territory marine regulations on the carriage of EPIRBs.
ELTs are usually fixed in the aircraft and designed to activate on impact. ELTs are required to operate continuously for 24 hours once activated. Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations require most aircraft to carry an ELT. CASA regulations allow for PLBs or EPIRBs to be carried in General Aviation aircraft as an alternative to an ELT.
PLBs are designed for personal use in both the land and marine environment. These types of beacons are becoming a multi-environment beacon and are required to operate for a minimum of 24 hours once activated.
EPIRBs, PLBs and ELTs operate on two (2) frequencies - 406 MHz for primary alerting and 121.5 MHz for final stage homing. Because of the digital technology used in 406MHz beacons, they are far more capable than the out-moded analogue 121.5 MHz beacons.
406MHz beacons come in two basic types: those that provide an encoded (GPS) location and those that do not. The satellite system can calculate a beacon’s location, but locating a distress site is usually much faster if the beacon signal provides a GPS location.
Additionally, specific categories of commercial and fishing vessels are sometimes legally required to carry 406 MHz beacons. For further details regarding requirements please contact your State or Territory boating authority.
Additional information on distress beacons can be found at: www.amsa.gov.au/beacons
Caution
- Where a beacon has been activated inadvertently, the most important thing to do is switch off the beacon and notify the RCC Australia as soon as possible by calling 1800 641 792 to ensure a search and rescue operation is not commenced. There is no penalty for inadvertent activations.
- If this activation is discovered whilst at sea, the RCC must be informed by the most rapid means of communication, either direct or via another station with passing instructions to urgently forward to the RCC in Canberra.
- Testing of EPIRBs should be done at regular intervals and in accordance with correct procedure. Batteries must also be kept current and should be replaced only by the beacon's manufacturer.
Safety equipment
While satellites and satellite-compatible distress beacons have significantly improved the effectiveness of SAR operations, the system is NOT a substitute for carrying appropriate marine or aviation radio.
Depending on the circumstances, your initial distress alert should still be made by radio if possible. You should activate your distress beacon only if contact cannot be made by any other means or when told to do so by a rescue authority.
Likewise, pilots and offshore mariners should never rely solely on any single safety or navigation system. They should always carry appropriate charts and safety equipment, be aware of changing weather, and operate within the limits of their own capability and the capability of their boat or aircraft.
VHF Marine Radio Operator Qualifications - Have Your Say
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is considering new directions for VHF marine radio operators, their qualifications and other arrangments for recreational vessels.
A review has been triggered by concerns expressed to the ACMA by the National Marine Safety Committee (NMSC). The concerns relate to the perceived declining standards in the operation of marine VHF equipment and apparent low compliance in the recreational boating community with the requirement for marine radio operator qualifications.
ACMA has released a public discussion paper and undertaken a range of activities including: commissioning an independent survey to measure awareness and compliance with the marine radio operator’s certificate of proficiency, examination of available marine safety data and regulation of carriage of VHF marine radios. The Media Authority is also seeking the opinions of those who use VHF marine radio and other interested parties through a online survey or direct contact.
For more information regarding the review and to have your say, please follow the link to the ACMA survey or visit www.acma.gov.au.
Contact information
24 Hour Emergency Contact Numbers
1800 641 792 (Maritime)
1800 815 257 (Aviation)
or
+612 6230 6811 (Maritime)
+612 6230 6899 (Aviation)
406 MHz beacon registration advice:
Telephone: 1800 406 406 or (02) 6279 5766
Facsimile: 1800 406 329 or (02) 9332 6323
Media enquiries:
Telephone: 1300 624 633
General inquiries may be directed, during business hours, to:
Telephone: (02) 6279 5746
Facsimile: (02) 6230 6868
Postal Address:
AMSA
GPO Box 2181
Canberra City ACT 2601
Additional information about the Cospas-Sarsat international satellite system can be found at: www.cospas-sarsat.org