MAJOR MARINE DISASTER PLANS

1. Derek Smith Senior Analyst National Search and Rescue Sectretariat 15 October 2004 MAJOR MARINE DISASTER PLANS

2. What is a Major Marine Disaster Involves large numbers of people In a Marine Environment, outside jurisdiction of shore authorities May involve more than one vessel Probably involves removing large numbers of persons from a ship to a place of safety Note: A liferaft at sea is not a place of safety

3. International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety 3.2 Radiocommunications and SAR have a part to play in any incident before a ship is actually evacuated � even before the decision to evacuate is made. Ideally, communications with the RCC and other SAR facilities will have been initiated well before. And �SAR� should not be considered only as a matter of finding and recovering people in distress. SAR service assistance can be provided to the ship before it is evacuated, preferably to prevent evacuation becoming necessary � firefighting or medical teams may be transferred aboard, emergency towing assistance supplied, etc.

4. International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety 3.4 Similarly, as the group also noted in its first report, the response to any incident extends beyond the safe delivery of survivors to the shore. The maritime SAR services are (or should be) closely involved with their shore-side counterparts in arranging efficient transfer of the survivors into shore-side care. In the case of a large passenger ship evacuation this will be a very complicated process, with the need for extensive communication � at the contingency planning stage as well as during any incident.

10. International Air and Marine Search And Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual Introduced in 1998 Has three volumes 1. Organization and Management 2. Mission Co-ordination 3. Mobile facilities

11. International Air and Marine Search And Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual Introduit en 1998 Comprend trois tomes 1. Organisation et gestion 2. Coordination de la mission 3. Installations mobiles

12. MARINE SAR IN CANADA A federal responsibility Co-ordinated by a Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) or a Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) A joint operation by Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard A major operation will involve many authorities and organizations outside the SAR system

15. JRCC/MRSC will alert : Rescue resources Helicopters Lifeboats Other Coast Guard vessels Merchant vessels nearby Warships Fixed wing SAR aircraft The SAR command and control structure

16. Who else needs to know ? The Ship Owner (shipping company) Local Authority (EMO) Police Harbour Master Fire Department Ambulance Department Hospital

17. Qui d�autre doit savoir ? Le propri�taire du navire (soci�t�) Les autorit�s locales (OMU) Les services policiers Le capitaine de port Les services d�incendie Les services ambulanciers L�h�pital

18. BEWARE Some of these authorities and organizations may have different command and control systems Emergency Site Management (ESM) Incident Command System (ICS) System in Canadian Unified Command Centres is a mix of IAMSAR and ICS

19. Command Considerations Additional air resources Where will survivors be landed Where will injured persons be landed and will it be by air or sea Are the facilities in these locations adequate If additional resources are required at these locations how will they get there and how quickly

21. Unified Command Structure in Canada

23. And did you remember The media Salvage/recovery of the ship(s) The media Pollution The media Record keeping and the subsequent enquiry

24. Media Handling Interest in a major incident will be intense �No comment� will not be adequate A co-ordinated media strategy is vital Be prepared to provide information and facilities to assist the news media to do its job Be prepared to provide operational �talking heads� for news conferences and interviews

25. What Has Canada Done To Prepare A SAR structure which meets international commitments A well integrated system of regular and volunteer response units Well trained response units, military and civil CF/CCG Project Team to update Major Marine Disaster Plans in February 2001(NIF) A review of the Command and Control framework in February 2004 (NSS Co-hosted) Regular exercises

26. What needs to be remembered Keep the Major Marine Disaster Plan up to date- review it regularly Exercise realistically but in a controlled manner- remember to include external agencies in exercises Continue exercises beyond the shoreline Speak to stakeholders � shipping interests Every major incident will be different � be prepared to improvise around the basic plan

29. NSS TELEPHONE NUMBERSGeneral number 1 800 727 9414Derek Smith 613 996 3590 (marine)Pat McSorley 613 996 3604 (air)Carole Smith 613 996 3727 (ground)Marc Parent 613 995 3066(RCMP)