Management System

The Division of Search and Rescue (SAR) Duties

In accordance with the Finnish SAR Act everyone who knows people to be in distress at sea is responsible for, on his own initiative, taking necessary measures in order to rescue them, if it does not cause an unreasonable risk for the rescuer or other people. The rescuer shall immediately inform the relevant maritime rescue coordination centre or sub-centre of the measures taken.

Search and rescue services (Administrative management)

• Border Guard HQ
• Coast Guard Districts
• Air Patrol Squadron

Search and rescue operation

• Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre and Sub-Centres (MRCC and MRSCs) 
• Search and Rescue Mission Co-ordinator (SMC)
• On-scene Co-ordinator (OSC)
• Aircraft Co-ordinatior (ACO)

The Duties of an SMC, OSC and ACO

In case of an emergency, the operations in the maritime rescue coordination centre and sub-centre are led by a Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC). He determines the phase of emergency and alerts the units needed for the task. He leads and co-ordinates the operation of the rescue units in the search and rescue sub-region by determining their duties and providing necessary orders, instructions and information and maintaining preconditions for their activities and requesting additional facilities during the operation. He decides on the suspension and termination of the search and rescue activities.

An On-scene Coordinator (OSC) is appointed, if necessary, by an SMC. Under the SMC, the OSC is responsible for leading search and rescue activities outside the ship in distress on the scene of the accident. He shall be an official with a deep knowledge of the duties. In urgent cases other person than an official can also temporarily be designated to an OSC if this is necessary for the rescue activity. The OSC can provide the search and rescue units on scene with binding orders and provisions. Under the SMC, the OSC exercises governmental powers and is responsible as an official for the legality of his actions.

An Aircraft Coordinator is appointed by a search and rescue mission co-ordinator. Under the SMC, the ACO leads and coordinates the involvement of aircraft in search and rescue operations on the scene of the distress.

The ACO is absolutely necessary if a great number of aircraft is involved in search and rescue action.

Management

The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and sub-centres are responsible for independently leading search and rescue operations in their respective search and rescue sub-regions.

The MRCC decides if necessary on the division of national resources and the allocation of national and international resources in situations where search and rescue units are required simultaneously within several search and rescue sub-regions.

The SMC is in charge of search and rescue operations. He determines the phase of emergency by virtue of the information received alerts search and rescue units and provides tasks for the units.

The SMC may on certain conditions designate people to assist and provide vessels and equipment for search and rescue purposes.

If necessary, the SMC appoints an OSC, an On-scene Co-operative Board and an ACO.

The SMC also decides on the suspension and termination of search and rescue operation. By virtue of his powers, he is responsible for his decisions. In spite of his independent powers, the operation in the case of emergency is primarily based on the plans of action drawn up in advance.

The commander of the Coast Guard District (or his substitute) is in all situations responsible for the arrangements of search and rescue services within his search and rescue sub-region. In complex emergency situations requiring large-scale operation he acts as chairman of a Co-operative Board of the search and rescue sub-region. As a general co-ordinator of the operation, he creates the best opportunities for an SMC to succeed in the co-ordination of search and rescue activities.

Both the OSC and ACO exercise authority over the search and rescue units and other units placed under their orders.

The nature and urgency of an emergency determines what units will be used in a search and rescue mission. In addition, the equipment of the units, level of training of the personnel, applicability of the units to the task, area and requirements of the conditions and the estimated time of their arrival contribute to the selection of units.

SAR helicopters on duty are primarily used for the transports of patients on the basic level because their equipment and personnel are best suited for this kind of tasks.

Cooperation

On the national level the Frontier Guard Headquarters is responsible for the co-ordination of the operation between the authorities and voluntary organizations participating in the search and rescue. This coordination is discussed in the meetings of a National Maritime SAR Committee. Furthermore, every search and rescue sub-region has a Coordination Board which on one hand assists a Coast Guard District in the planning of search and rescue services and on the other hand, in a case of emergency, supports an SMC in the co-ordination of activities between different parties.

In accordance with the Finnish SAR Act the rescue of people is of primary significance; other rescue actions for example saving the property or preventing pollution from cargo must be co-ordinated with the saving of persons in the way ordered by an SMC.

The maritime rescue coordination centre and sub-centres directly provide a flight unit with a flight task assigned to the Frontier Guard aircraft. However, a request for other aircraft to perform a flight task is given to the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre by the maritime rescue coordination centre or sub-centre.

Training system

The training system has been formed in accordance with the principles of IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual). The Frontier and Coast Guard School is responsible for the actual training. SAR training is also given to other than frontier guardsmen.