MARINE NOTICE 11 / 2010:
Guidelines for commercial shipping rescuing persons at sea in or adjacent to the Australian Search and Rescue Region
Supersedes Marine Notice 8/2005
In June 2005, the Australian Government released a revised set of guidelines to clarify the responsibilities of Australian and international ships’ masters rescuing people at sea in or adjacent to the Australian Search and Rescue Region.
The guidelines are consistent with Australia’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea. A copy of the guidelines is attached for the attention and advice of masters, owners and agents and is available on the Internet at: http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/maritime/safety/sea_rescue.aspx
The guidelines should be read in conjunction with Resolution MSC.167(78) – ‘IMO Guidelines on the Treatment of Persons Rescued at Sea’, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization on 20 May 2004.
Inquiries about the content of the guidelines should be directed to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. The contact officer is the General Manager, Maritime Policy Reform Branch, telephone (02) 6274 7772 and facsimile (02) 6274 7884.
The guidelines require the master of a vessel participating in a rescue that is being coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) to advise certain information to RCC Australia.
Reports can be made on a 24 hour basis via:
Inmarsat;
AMSA HF DSC Network: MMSI 005030001
Toll free: 1800 641 792
Telephone: +61 2 6230 6811
Facsimile: +61 2 6230 6868; or
e-mail: rccaus@amsa.gov.au
Mick Kinley
A/g Chief Executive Officer
7 June 2010
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181,
Canberra City ACT 2601
File No: 028526
Internet Address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au