JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

Ship SAR Manual (MERSAR) contains procedures for merchant ships involved
in SAR. IMO Search and Rescue Manual (IMOSAR) assists governments in
meeting objectives of various international SAR conventions, provides
for internally standardized SAR polices and procedures, and is closely
aligned with the ICAO Search and Rescue Manual.
C. International Telecommunications Union (ITU) coordinates
international radio regulations and recommendations (see Appendix B).
It prescribes the frequencies and signals for uncertainty, alert,
distress, emergency, and safety messages. ITU provides the Coast Guard,
RCCs, and other organizations concerned with safety of life at sea, with
information on ships in distress or in need of assistance. The
information may be requested by TELEX during ITU office hours (0800 -
1800 hours Z+1), TELEX No. 23 000/23 000.
D. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) establishes standard
weather report terminology and format, and maintains a worldwide weather
watch.
E. World Health Organization (WHO) coordinates worldwide health
efforts, establishes standard immunization forms, and coordinates health
requirements for entry into a participating nation's territory.
F. Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) publishes the IADB SAR
Manual (DOC C-1542) for use by member states. It standardizes SAR
procedures in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The United
States Joint Chiefs of Staff has approved use of the manual in SAR
involving United States forces with the other IADB member countries of
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua,
Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
G. NATO Military Agency for Standardization (MAS) enables North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces to effectively operate
together by standardizing operations and equipment.
H. Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC) consists of
Air Force officers from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia,
New Zealand, and Canada. ASCC conducts studies, reviews procedures and
equipment, and recommends agreements, called Air Standards, to
standardize the Air Forces of member nations.
I. Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) is an
interagency, internationally sponsored system of low altitude, nearpolar
orbiting satellites and ground receiving stations. The network is
designed to provide the approximate positions of distress beacon signals
from maritime Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBS) and
aviation Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). The USSR provides an
interoperable segment, COSPAS, which is combined to form the
COSPAS/SARSAT system. SARSAT detects emergency signals on the distress
frequencies of 121.5 and 243.0 MHz. Positions provided using these
frequencies normally have a navigational accuracy of 12 nautical miles
or less. SARSAT also detects the 406 MHz beacon which is being