Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Published on Australian Maritime Safety Authority (https://www.amsa.gov.au)

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Search and rescue

Our 24/7 high tech search and rescue capabilities allow us to respond quickly to people in distress across our region. We use advanced response and satellite technology, contracted equipment, an emergency towage vessel, and four jet aircraft to respond to calls for help.
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Preparing for a trip

Whether you are taking to the skies, heading out on the water, or off the beaten track, it is always important to be prepared.

  • Things to know before you go

    Be prepared before your trip. Stay safe at sea, on land or in the air.
    Read more
    [1]
  • Marine

    Be prepared before your trip. Stay safe at sea.
    Read more
    [2]
  • Land

    Be prepared before your trip. Stay safe on land.
    Read more
    [3]
  • Aviation

    Be prepared before your trip. Stay safe in the air.
    Read more
    [4]

Search and rescue in Australia

We provide a search and rescue service in Australia. We respond to incidents in the air, on land, and at sea.

  • Australia's search and rescue region

    We have a large search and rescue region which covers our land mass, and large areas of our...
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    [5]
  • Our role in search and rescue

    We provide a search and rescue (SAR) service for Australia. This allows us to quickly deploy a SAR...
    Read more
    [6]
  • Responding to search and rescue

    Our 24/7 centre responds to search and rescue (SAR) incidents throughout Australia.
    Read more
    [7]
  • Search and rescue arrangements in Australia

    The Australian states and territories work with us to coordinate an effective search and rescue (...
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    [8]
  • History of search and rescue in Australia

    The establishment of Australia's search and rescue (SAR) response system.
    Read more
    [9]
  • National Search and Rescue Council

    The National Search and Rescue Council is a cooperative body that is responsible for the national...
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    [10]
  • Search and rescue observer program

    Our SAR observer program trains SES volunteers to look for signs of people in distress from the air...
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    [11]
  • Engaging with the search and rescue community

    We engage with national, domestic, regional and international stakeholders to develop a best...
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    [12]

Our search and rescue equipment

Our search and rescue equipment includes four jet aircraft and an emergency towage vessel. We also have equipment for hire and supporting technologies to keep you safe.

  • Search and rescue response, capability and technology

    The technologies which support our search and rescue (SAR) response.
    Read more
    [13]
  • Contracted search and rescue aircraft and equipment

    Providing 24/7 search and rescue (SAR) service for Australia.
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    [14]
  • Challenger aircraft

    We have four Bombardier Challenger 604 jet aircraft for search and rescue. The Challengers are...
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    [15]
  • Emergency towage vessel Coral Knight

    The Coral Knight is the only emergency towage vessel of its type in Australia.
    Read more
    [16]
  • Cospas–Sarsat search and rescue satellite system

    The search and rescue (SAR) satellite system we use in the Australian SAR region.
    Read more
    [17]

International and regional search and rescue

We work with regional and international agencies and governments to constantly improve our search and rescue capabilities, and conduct search and rescue operations in nearby regions, and internationally.

  • Regional search and rescue

    We contribute to safety in the region by working with our geographic neighbours.
    Read more
    [18]
  • International search and rescue conventions

    We follow the guidance of international conventions when conducting search and rescue (SAR)...
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    [19]

Past search and rescue incidents

Major search and rescue operations conducted throughout Australia in past years.

  • Search and rescue incidents 2019-20

    Find out about the search and rescue incidents we attended between July 2019 and June 2020
    Read more
    [20]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2018–19

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2018–19.
    Read more
    [21]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2017–18

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2017–18.
    Read more
    [22]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2016–17

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2016–17.
    Read more
    [23]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2015–16

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2015–16.
    Read more
    [24]
  • Search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370

    A timeline of our involvement in the search for and investigation into the disappearance of...
    Read more
    [25]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2014–15

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2014–15.
    Read more
    [26]
  • Search and rescue incidents 2013–14

    Our search and rescue incidents from 2013–14.
    Read more
    [27]

Source URL:https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue

Links
[1] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/things-know-you-go [2] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/marine [3] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/land [4] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/aviation [5] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/australias-search-and-rescue-region [6] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/our-role-search-and-rescue [7] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/responding-search-and-rescue [8] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-arrangements-australia [9] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/history-search-and-rescue-australia [10] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/national-search-and-rescue-council [11] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-observer-program [12] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/engaging-search-and-rescue-community [13] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-response-capability-and-technology [14] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/contracted-search-and-rescue-aircraft-and-equipment [15] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/challenger-aircraft [16] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/emergency-towage-vessel-coral-knight [17] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/cospas-sarsat-search-and-rescue-satellite-system [18] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/regional-search-and-rescue [19] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/international-search-and-rescue-conventions [20] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2019-20 [21] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2018-19 [22] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2017-18 [23] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2016-17 [24] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2015-16 [25] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh370 [26] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2014-15 [27] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/search-and-rescue-incidents-2013-14