SAR and PI

Question 1

Outline the Master’s obligation to assist a vessel in distress.

Answer 1

REGULATION 33 - Distress messages: Obligations and procedures;
The master of a ship at sea which is in a position to be able to provide assistance on receiving a signal
from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their
assistance, if possible informing them or the search and rescue service that the ship is doing so.

Question 2

Outline the THREE exceptions to the Master’s obligation to assist a vessel in distress

Answer 2

1. If the ship receiving the distress alert is unable in the special circumstances of the case.
2. considers it unreasonable
3. unnecessary to proceed to their assistance.

All Reason should be stated in the ship official Logbook.

Question 3

TWO advantages of using Parallel Indexing; (6)

Answer 3

Parallel Indexing:
Enables constant monitoring of cross track distance.
May be used with different radar configurations.

Question 4

TWO reasons why Parallel Indexing should not be the only means of position monitoring.

Answer 4

Parallel indexing only indicates if the ship is on or off track.
It does not indicate progress along the track

Question 5

FOUR considerations for selecting a suitable Reference Point

Answer 5

Targets used should be:
Radar conspicuous.
Easily identified.
Unlikely to be confused with others.
Situated so as to provide continuous monitoring of the passage.
Unlikely to be obscured by ship shadow sectors.
At moderate ranges.

Question 6

The SIX factors affecting observer effectiveness.

Answer 6

Factors affecting observer effectiveness (appendix C) provide advice for all look-outs.
Factors include:
1.weather conditions
2. visibility
3. type of search craft (vessel, aircraft, liferaft, or person)
4. state of the sea (calm, choppy, or rough)
5. land features (woods, desert, jungle)?
6. daytime or night-time
7. look-out fatigue.

Question 7

The recommended position of lookouts during the day.

Answer 7

Place look-outs high on the vessel

Question 8

The recommended position of lookouts during the night.

Answer 8

Place look-outs on the bows as far forward and as low to the water’s edge as possible to hear any calls
for help and to establish the best night vision

Question 9

Outline the function of the Distressed vessel’s Search And Rescue Radar Transponder (SART) to aid location.

Answer 9

SOLAS ships should have a SART to interact with 9 GHz(X-band) vessel or aircraft radars for locating survival craft. SART responses show up as a distinctive line of about 20 equally-spaced blips on compatible radar displays, providing a bearing and range to the SART