AUSREP
adapted from the AUSREP booklet
Purpose of the AUSREP system
AUSREP is an integral part of the Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) system in Australia. AUSREP is operated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority through the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia). The objective of the AUSREP system is to contribute to safety of life at sea by:
- limiting the time between the loss of a ship and the initiation of search and rescue action, in cases where no distress signal is sent out;
- limiting the search area for a rescue action; and
- providing up-to-date information on shipping resources available in the area, in the event of a search and rescue incident.
Which ships should report to AUSREP
The Commonwealth of Australia Navigation Act 1912 (Division 14 Part IV) makes participation in the Australian Ship ReportingSystem (AUSREP) mandatory for certain ships. Under this Act, the following ships must report:
- all Australian-registered ships engaged in interstate or overseas trade and commerce, while in the AUSREP area;
- ships not registered in Australia, but engaged in the coasting trade between Australia and an external territory, or between external territories, while in the AUSREP area;
- ships not registered in Australia, but demised under charter parties to charterers whose residences or principal places of business are in Australia, while in the AUSREP area;
- foreign ships, other than the abovementioned ships, from their arrival at their first Australian port until their departure from their final Australian port. However, they are encouraged to participate from their entry into and final departure from the AUSREP area; and
- Australian fishing vessels proceeding on overseas voyages, while in the AUSREP area, but not including those vessels operating from Queensland ports, which may call at ports in Papua New Guinea as an incidental part of their fishing operations. A definition of ‘overseas voyage’ is given in section 6 (1) of the Navigation Act 1912.
Why RCC Australia needs to know where you are
If your ship is in distress and if you have not been able to send a Mayday message the AUSREP positive checking system operated by RCC Australia may result in an air search to locate your ship. The search aircraft will start searching in the area related to your ship’s predicted route and speed. If you have failed to report a deviation from your planned route and speed the search aircraft may not be able to find any survivors. It is in your best interest to keep RCC Australia advised of all your voyage details.
Voluntary participation
To ensure AUSREP achieves its purpose it is strongly recommended that Masters of ships which are not required to report to AUSREP do so to ensure the safety of their ships and that of others operating in the Australian Search & Rescue Region.
Offences
Regulations under the Navigation Act 1912 provide for penalties involving fines of up to $5 000 for infringements of reporting provisions.
Operating authority - RCC Australia
Functions
A principal function of RCC Australia is the coordination of Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) activity within the Australian Search and Rescue Region. RCC Australia is operated twenty-four hours a day by persons with considerable marine and/or aviation experience and qualifications.
Communications is at the very heart of search and rescue coordination activities and RCC Australia is well equipped with systems enabling access to communications worldwide including:
- Telephone
- X.25 and X.400 data communications
- Facsimile
- Aeronautical fixed telecommunications network (AFTN)
- INMARSAT B,C,M
From 1 July 2002 radio communications are provided through the AMSA HF DSC network in Australia.
In addition to RCC Australia’s functions in the SAR role it is also responsible for:
- coordination and promulgation of Maritime Safety Information (MSI) in the form of NAVAREA X warnings, and Australian Coastal Navigation Warnings (AUSCOAST);
- operation of the Australian component of the international COSPAS-SARSAT satellite detection system. This system is equipped to receive and evaluate information transmitted by Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs); and
- acting as AMSA’s 24 hour point of contact for matters relating to AMSA’s areas of responsibility.
RCC Australia contact details
- Telephone
- (02) 6230 6880
- International
- +61 2 6230 6880
- Freecall
- 1800-641792
- Facsimile
- (02) 6230 6868
- International
- +61 2 6230 6868
- Radio
- via the AMSA HF DSC Network using the maritime mobile service identity MMSI 005030001
- rccaus@amsa.gov.au
Note: Because Email is still not timecritical or secure, it should only be used for AUSREP reporting where other means are not available.
Concept of the AUSREP system
On departure from an Australian port or on entering the AUSREP area from overseas:
- Masters are to send a Sailing Plan (SP) to RCC Australia.
- A computerised plot will be maintained of the ship’s position;
- Masters are to make their ships available for polling and notify AMSA by inserting the word "POLL" in the appropriate section of the SAIL PLAN; or
- Where Polling is unavailable, Masters should send a Position Report (PR) each day at a convenient time nominated by the ship between 2200 UTC and 0800 UTC. The maximum time between any two reports is not to exceed 24 hours. Dates and times contained in AUSREP reports are to be in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC);
- If polling is used, the requirement to pass manual position reports is removed; and
- A Final Report (FR) is to be sent on arrival at the destination or on departure from the AUSREP area.
Should a ship at any time be in a position more than two hours steaming from the position that would have been predicted from the last SP or PR, then a Deviation Report (DR) must be sent. Failure to send an AUSREP DR, may result in a search being concentrated in the wrong area and the possibility that survivors from a stricken ship may not be found. Masters should also refer to section 1.19 (Overdue AUSREP reports)
last updated: May 2008