MODEL OF SEARCH AND RESCUE SYSTEM IN
SEA TRANSPORT - SYSTEM FORMULATION
Burciu Z.
Gdynia Maritime University, ul. Morska 81-87, 81-225 Gdynia, Poland
Abstract: The paper describes the system of search and rescue in sea transport. The system
analysis and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis have been carried out for search and rescue system.
1. Introduction
For the large–area operation system as search and rescue system in sea transport - the SWOT [6] (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis has been recognized as the preferably accepted system analysis. The main elements considered in the analysis can be defined as follows:
1. strengths:
efficient search and rescue of air or sea-surface vehicles and their equipment, 2. weakness:
imperfect organisation,
lack of information or inaccuracy of on scene hydro-meteorological information, shortage in equipment of rescue units,
3. opportunities:
time to reach the search area,
detection sensors,
4. threats:
limited time of rescue action, temperature.
2. System analysis
The evaluation of the rescue system in sea transport has been carried out using the system analysis. The range of system analysis is as follows [6]:
1. testing of the goals of the considered system, 2. investigation of possible ways to achieve the goals,
3. assessment of positive and negative results of each possible variant of procedure, including initial conditions of sar action,
4. comparison of variants according to different criteria and initial conditions of sar action.
Ad. 1. Goals of Rescue System analysis:
search of survivors,
efficient and safe realization of rescue action.
The primary goal of the rescue action is rescue of survivors. However the main goal during rescue action is to retrieve persons in distress, this situation can not cause the direct risk to rescuers or search and rescue units used to conduct the search and rescue operation. Every action undertaken by the rescuers follows the personal decision of the master of a SAR unit.
Ad. 2. Investigation of possible ways to achieve the goals:
receiving and analysis of hydro-meteorological data,
determination of the kind of object of search,
selection of a system to be used for search object detection,
collecting the information regarding merchant vessels in the close proximity to the
datum area.
To obtain the above goals the precise hydro-meteorological information is necessary. The information is based on the weather forecast announced by the meteorological office and updated by on-scene facilities.
Lack of information regarding life saving appliances and their operational conditions can be the reason of enlargement of search area. Search areas determined using deterministic and probabilistic (based on Fokker –Planck model) methods developed by the author for a survivor in the water and 10 persons life raft [1][2] are presented in figure 1.
The assistance of merchant vessels sailing near the datum should be properly planned. Some of the vessels could not be able to take part in rescue operation due to their loading conditions and their dimensions. Most of big vessels have limits due to their poor manoeuvrability.
Ad. 3. Assessment of positive and negative results of each possible variant of procedure including initial conditions of SAR Action:
risk assessment for merchant ships assigned to take part in rescue action,
season – temperature,
determination of search patterns.
The influence of heavy weather (storm) frequency of incidence for individual months of the year on the time to search during the day time is presented in figure 2.
Fig. 1. Search areas determined using deterministic and probabilistic (based on Fokker –Planck model) methods for a survivor in the water and 10 persons life raft [1, 2]
Liferaft 10 /wd 10% Liferaft 10 /wd 100% Liferaft 10 /d 10% Liferaft 10 /d 100% survivors
Fig.2. Time to search (day time): heavy weather (storm) frequency of incidence for individual months of the year
Determination of search patterns in dependent on many factors. As it was mentioned before the incorrect use of non rescue vessels, could cause several threats during search action and decrease efficiency of rescue operation, for example increase of sweep width of a search pattern.
Ad. 4. Comparison of variants according to different criteria and initial conditions of SAR Action:
determination of operational effort for each rescue facility, determination of search areas for different search objects1, assignment of rescue sub-areas for individual search units, determination of search patterns.
To determine the search area the Total Available Effort (Z=VxTxW), including abilities of all rescue units, should be considered. Search area is adjusted to the abilities of search units, the sub areas should be assigned to the particular search objects accordingly.
3. Transport system
Transport system can be described as an ordered foursome [3, 4]: ST= G,F,P,O
(1) where :
G – structure of a transport system,
F – set of functions specified (determined) on nodes or arches of structure graph, P – stream of movement as function of cargo and/or people replacement in the system, O – organization - lay out of the movement stream in the transport system.
Sea Rescue System (SR) is closely connected with the transport system (ST): SR = A,F,B,C
(2) where:
A - structure of Rescue System,
F - set of functions (defined, determined) on nodes or arches of structure graph, B - stream of movement as function of information and orders flow in the system,
C - organization – means nature and direction of information and orders flow in rescue system (quality of information - quantity, topicality, accuracy, credibility).
Structure of Rescue System is presented in figure 3. Stream of movement as a function of information flow is presented in figures 4 and 5. Organization of the system id presented in figure 6.
Fig. 3. Structure of services and organs collaborating within Maritime Search and Rescue Services
4. Conclusions
The presented analysis of system Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats allows to determine stages and tasks of the rescue system in sea transport which are the most difficult and most important from the system main goals point of view. The proper choice of the most important problems let to concentrate on overcoming the difficulties of greatest importance for the whole system and help to increase system efficiency.
Fig. 4. Structure of flow of the information necessary to start SAR action
References
1. Burciu Z.: Modelowanie Obszarów Poszukiwania w Aspekcie Bezpieczeństwa Transportu Ludzi na Morzu. Prace Naukowe Transport z.50, Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Warszawskiej, s.128, Warszawa 2003.
2. Burciu Z.: Podejmowanie decyzji w akcji SAR na morzu. XXXIV Zimowa Szkoła Niezawodności Szczyrk 2006.
3. Leszczyński J.: Modelowanie systemów i procesów transportowych. Oficyna Wydawnicza PW, Warszawa 1994.
4. Wawrzyński W., Jurdziński M., Dziula P.: Elementy modelowania morskiego systemu transportowego. VI Międzynarodowe Sympozjum Nawigacyjne, s. 291 – 299, Gdynia, 2005.
5. International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual. IMO/ICAO, London/Montreal, 1999. Provisions of Conventions, Plans, Manuals and Other Documents Affecting SAR – Changes To The IAMSAR Manual (First Edition). Proposed by the United States ICAO/IMO-JWG/7-WP.1 February, 2000. Adoption of amendments to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, MSC/Circ.999-11 June 2001.
