Lecture 11: Maritime Search and Rescue ( SAR ) , Tracking technologies

Question 1

How does the COSPAS SARSAT work?

Answer 1

1. Satellite-based monitoring system that detects and locates emergency beacons
2. Professional operators then notify Search and Rescue authorities
3. The beacons comply with internationally agreed standards for radio communication and identification of beacon owners.
4. Work on the 406.025 MHz and 121.5 MHz band and are applicable for all sea areas

Question 2

What comprises of COSPAS SARSAT system?

Answer 2

The System consists of:
1. Aircraft: Emergency Locator Transmitters
2. Ships: Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon Stations(EPIRBs)
3. Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)
4. Maritime Security (ISPS Code)
5. Public: Often used by hikers and others in remote regions, which are called Personal Locator beacons(PLBs)

Question 3

What are the advantages of autonomous vessels?

Answer 3

1. Minimise or eliminate human error
2. Reduce crewing cost, biggest Vessel Operating Cost (VOC)
3. Increases Safety of Life
4. Efficient Use of Space in ship design
5. Efficient use of fuel
6. Solution to prevailing shortage of seafarers

Question 4

What are the disadvantages of autonomous vessels?

Answer 4

1. Incompatibilities between current marine infrastructure and an unmanned vessel
2. Challenge in remote maintenance of moving parts
3. Breakdown during an ocean voyage can lead to substantial disruption & loss of money
4. Disruptive to seafarers’ employment that needs to be mitigated

Question 5

What are the challenges ahead for autonomous vessels?

Answer 5

1. No well-set definition of an autonomous ship being a ship
2. Absence of Crew issues: UNCLOS defines that all ships must be in charge of a master(ISM) and officers who possess appropriate qualifications.
   SOLAS, MARPOL. STCW and the Paris MoU as well as the EU directive 16/2009 on PSC all presume that the masters will be present onboard
3. Navigation Rules Issues:
   Capability to timely and effectively execute manoeuvres to avoid collisions by regulations (COLREGS), vessel is unmanned
4. Cyber Risk measures:
   In a highly dependent computer environment–> More prone to cyber attacks
5. Liability & Limitation Issues:
   especially for ships with degrees of autonomy 3 or 4, they cannot determine human fault if the ship breaks down. Civil law leans to a fault-based standard.
6. Seaworthiness issues
   Implied warranty that the vessel is “ reasonably seaworthy in all respects.”

This warranty is fundamental and the basis of all policies in marine insurance at the commencement of a voyage.

As per Hague Visby rules. All ships to be seaworthy clearly requires ship to be properly manned.