South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act, 2002RegulationsSouth African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SASAR) Regulations, 2016Part 2 : SAR Governance, Co-ordination and Oversight6. Collaboration and co-operation with other States and SAR services |
| (1) | SASAR must, under the direction of the Department, seek to establish formal, documented agreements of cooperation with SAR service providers of all contiguous States with a view to: |
| (a) | strengthening SAR cooperation and coordination; |
| (b) | specifying the conditions for entry of each others' SAR Units into their respective territories; and |
| (c) | expediting entry of such SAR Units. |
| (2) | The agreements of cooperation with SAR service providers of contiguous States must include information concerning SAR services and capabilities including details of SAR Units able to assist in the conduct of SAR operations in their respective SRRs. |
| (3) | The Department must publish and disseminate all information necessary for the entry of SAR Units of other States into its territory or, alternatively, include this information in formal SAR agreements. |
| (4) | SASAR must coordinate SAR operations that are proximate to contiguous SRRs with SAR providers of those States. |
| (5) | The Department must encourage, to the fullest extent possible, operators of all aircraft, vessels and appropriate local services and facilities which do not form part of the SAR organization to cooperate fully, as their capacities allow, in the planning and conduct of SAR operations. |
| (6) | SASAR must establish formal, documented agreements of cooperation, that are acceptable to the Department, with air traffic/maritime service providers that clearly define respective responsibilities in providing emergency response services to aircraft and vessels including the exchange of flight plan and operational data, communication services. temporary attribution of staff and other specialised services as may be deemed necessary from time to time. |
| (7) | SASAR must cooperate, as far as practicable, with all properly accredited authorities and entities investigating incidents and accidents. |
| (8) | The Department, in consultation with SASAR must designate a SAR Point of Contact for receipt of distress alert and location messages and associated data from authorities and users of the Cospas-Sarsat system. |
| (9) | The ARCC must recommend and prepare documentation for declaration of a Restricted Area whenever deemed necessary for safe and efficient SAR operations. |
| (10) | The Department in conjunction with SASAR must seek to arrange joint training exercises involving their SAR Units and those of other States. |
| (11) | The Department, in consultation with SASAR must seek to arrange: |
| (a) | Periodic liaison visits for RCC and RSC staff to cooperating entities nationally and Air Traffic Service (ATS) and SAR service providers in contiguous States; and |
| (b) | Attendance at local, regional and international meetings by designated SAR office bearers. |
| (12) | SASAR must seek to encourage the closest possible cooperation and coordination with relevant aeronautical, maritime, land based and military emergency response authorities, including the possibility of establishing a JRCC to coordinate aeronautical and maritime search and rescue operations, when feasible and practical. |