(NEWS) Rescuing People in Distress - SSRS and SMA Provide Maritime Safety Program

August

2014

Rescuing People in Distress - SSRS and SMA Provide Maritime Safety Program

The Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS – Sjöräddnings Sällsskapet), together with Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA-Sjöfartsverket), provided a program for the Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration students from 14-18 July that was comprised of lectures and exercises on the legal and practical aspects of searching for and rescuing people in distress at sea. The program was organized by Dr. Thore Hagman and Dr. Mattias Wengelin of SSRS, and Peter Hellberg of SMA in coordination with WMU Associate Professor, Michael Baldauf as part the Memorandum of Understanding established between WMU and SSRS in 2011.

The course module began at WMU with introductory lectures delivered by Peter Hellberg who provided a brief historical background of rescue at sea with a focus on IMO waters. The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manuals (IAMSAR) were introduced and a number of thematic sessions were provided for discussion regarding the fundamentals of IMO’s legal frameworks. The program continued with a presentation hosted by SMA that focused on the Swedish Joint Rescue Co-ordination Center (JRCC) at Käringberget and included an overview of SSRS procedures in relation to operating the JRCC.

A highlight of the program was the opportunity for students to attend a basic safety course at SRSS in Gothenburg that included a complex rescue exercise. The practical exercise focused on different search and rescue (SAR) scenarios that demonstrated how the IAMSAR manual recommendations can be implemented and practically applied. During the SAR exercise, students experienced first-hand how the different partners and rescue units interact in a SAR operation at sea and on shore.

Note: SAR exercise photos courtesy of SSRS

To learn more about the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, click here.

To learn more about the Swedish Maritime Administration, click here.

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