National Sea Search and Rescue System: Status and Prospects

Authors:

Shchiptsov Alexander Anatolievich

Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor

By joining the International Maritime Organization, our country has committed itself to the implementation of international conventions in the field of maritime safety. The unconditional compliance with these obligations guarantees the confidence of the world community and international merchant shipping to Ukraine, ships under its flag, as well as the safety of shipping in the coastal waters and water areas of the sea trading ports.

A distinctive feature of the Azov-Black Sea Basin is its isolation. The Black Sea is the Mediterranean Sea of ​​the Atlantic Ocean. The Black Sea area is 420,300 km2, the largest length is 610 miles, the largest width is approximately 330 miles. The narrowest part of the sea (between the cape Sarych of the Crimean peninsula and the cape of Kerempe on the Anatolian coast) - 142 miles. The central part of the Black Sea has depths of 2000-2200 m, and the greatest depth is 2210 m. The Azov Sea is shallow: average depth is 8, maximum - up to 15 m. The surface area of ​​the water surface is 40 500 km2.

The projected increase in the intensity of shipping, as well as the volumes of oil and oil products that are intended to be transported by the sea section of the Euro-Asian transport corridor, in the case of man-made accidents also increases the risk of an ecological catastrophe in the Black Sea. The consequences of such a catastrophe can be extremely devastating both for the indicated basin and for the economies of the region. The elimination of the consequences of the disaster will take a long time, as well as significant material and financial resources.

In addition to man-made accidents, the natural phenomena in the Azov-Black Sea basin (geological processes, fluctuations in sea level, sediment movement, congestion-driven phenomena, seismic and draft, tornadoes, and ice cover) are threatened by the safety of navigation. In particular, based on complex geological and geophysical research carried out by scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the processes associated with gas emissions and mud volcanic activity at the bottom of the Black Sea have been studied, as well as their possible negative impact on the safety of shipping.

"... August 31, 1986, 22:00. Warm southern evening, the sky in the stars, the sea is calm. The "Admiral Nakhimov" ship with passengers on board departed from the pier of Novorossiysk and followed the exit from Tsemesskaya Bay, heading for Sochi. After passing Penaice cans, the steamship fell on a course of 160 degrees, following a 12-knot move. On board it was 1234 people: 888 passengers, 346 crew members. At that time, the cargo ship "Pyotr Vasev" (larger displacement, heavily loaded) entered the Cemes Bay, following a speed of 11.5 knots at a course of 36 degrees. About 30 thousand tons of barley from Canada were on board. The ships approached crossed courses. The total speed of their movement was more than 23 knots.

At 23 o'clock 12 minutes, the boat's nose was hit at right angles to the right side of the Admiral Nakhimov boat. The powerful "Petra Vasev" bubble broke through a huge hole in the "Admiral Nakhimov" building, which further increased due to the fact that the steamboat under the influence of cars strode forward, and the tubers, which entered into its body, tore the lining, spreading the hole to the adjacent compartments. In seconds, water flooded two compartments of the ship, including the engine room. The light went out on the boat ... "(Muromov I.A., 100 large shipwrecks." Admiral Nakhimov. "- Moscow: Publishing House" VECHE ", 2003. - P. 551-557).

Implementation of the state maritime policy of Ukraine involves ensuring the safety of maritime activity. The essential components of the safety of maritime activities are safety of navigation, sea search and rescue, protection and preservation of the marine environment.

Let's consider some aspects related to the creation of a national marine search and rescue system.

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (Chapter V, Rule 7.1) stipulates that "each Contracting Government undertakes to ensure that all necessary measures for the organization of communication in the event of disaster and coordination in its area of ​​responsibility and rescue of people in distress in the sea near its shores . These measures include the creation, operation and maintenance of such search and rescue tools that are considered to be practically possible and necessary, based on the intensity of the movement of seagoing vessels and navigational hazards, and also, to the extent practicable, provide adequate means for locating and rescuing such people " .

The integrated system of monitoring the surface conditions in the Azov-Black Sea basin, the system of search and rescue at sea are integral components of the state system of safety of navigation. The creation and functioning of these systems is provided for by the State Program for Improving the Functioning of the State System of Security of Shipping for 2002-2006, approved by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 96 of January 28, 2002. The coordination and control of work related to the implementation of this program was carried out by the Ministry of Transport and communications of Ukraine.

The state system of safety of navigation includes the relevant constituent parts. However, the structure of the said state system should presuppose, de jure, the existence of interdepartmental (national) and institutional systems for search and rescue in the maritime liability zone of Ukraine.

The component parts of the state system for ensuring the safety of navigation are the State Marine Pilotage Service, the Marine Emergency and Rescue Service of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine, the State Search and Rescue Service on the water bodies of the Ministry of Emergencies, the services and positions of the traffic control of courts, other institutions, organizations and enterprises of the maritime industry ( Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated January 28, 2002 No. 96).

Until now (January 2007), the formation and legal regulation of the departmental marine search and rescue system of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as the national system of search and rescue in the maritime liability zone of Ukraine (hereinafter - the national system of sea search and rescue), have not been completed in Ukraine.

The term "system" should be clarified. A system is a set of elements that are in relationships and relationships with each other, forming a certain integrity, unity. Moreover, in accordance with the recommendations of paragraphs 1.1.4., 2.1.2. The Manual for International Aviation and Marine Search and Rescue (hereinafter referred to as the MAMPS Manual), any SAR system must have a structure to ensure the efficient performance of such functions as reception, acknowledgment and retransmission of disaster notifications; coordination of SAR response measures; conducting SAR operations.

  • means of communication within the entire search and rescue area, as well as with external SAR services;
  • Coordination center for search and rescue to coordinate the work of SAR services;
  • One or more auxiliary search and rescue centers to support the search and rescue coordination center within its area of search and rescue;
  • SARs, including search and rescue teams with specialized equipment and trained personnel, as well as other resources that can be used to carry out SAR operations;
  • coordinator at the site of the operation, appointed as needed to coordinate the actions of all participating agents at the site of the operation;
  • aids that provide maintenance in support of SAR operations.

"... The ship began to climb quickly to the right side. A command was given to launch salvage facilities (rafts and boats), but everything happened so fast that most of them were never thrown into the water and went to the bottom with a ship that sank within 8 minutes after the collision. The situation of people in the interior of the ship was particularly difficult. In absolute darkness, with the growing bank, not knowing the ways of evacuation, many of them were doomed to perish. In the best position were those who at the moment of the disaster were on an open deck. But those of them who did not know how to swim, and most of them turned out to be in water without lifebands, also died.

When the collision occurred, the ship was 15 kilometers from the port of Novorossiysk and at a distance of 3.5 kilometers from the coast. The excitement of the sea was 3-3.5 points. Steam "Admiral Nakhimov" sank in 7-8 minutes. We managed to save 836 people. For rescue operations, 60 vessels, 20 helicopters and 80 divers were involved. On September 4, 116 dead bodies were raised ... "

The most important components of these SAR systems in Ukraine are the State Marine Rescue and Coordination Center, the State Specialized Enterprise Marine Emergency and Rescue Service and the State Enterprise Delta-Lotsman of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine.

In Ukraine, when managing SAR systems (in accordance with the recommendations of paragraphs 2.1.2, 2.3.1, 2.3.7 of the IAMTS Manual), it is necessary to provide that the State Maritime Rescue and Coordination Center of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine is an independent legal entity that is responsible for facilitating the effective organization of SAR services and for coordinating SAR operations within the national marine search and rescue area. In the manual "The Latitude of the Black and Azov Seas on the Water of Ukraine" (No. 101, publications of the State Enterprise "State Hydrography 2005") it is indicated that for the coordination of search and rescue operations, the State Marine Rescue and Coordination Center (GMSKC) has a permanent link with 27 organizations ministries and departments of Ukraine, which provide it, 20 sea ports, 6 nearest sea coordination centers and sub-centers of the global search and rescue system.

The NCMC coordinates activities, but does not necessarily ensure the availability of SAR devices within the entire internationally recognized national search and rescue marine area, as foreseen in the Global Plan for the Search and Rescue of the International Maritime Organization. The GMESC must have certain key capabilities before it is reasonably recognized as responsible for the search and rescue area through the inclusion in the SAR of the Global Plan. GMSCR should coordinate the work of emergency rescue services SAR. It is crucially important that GMSKC be an independent legal entity and have the appropriate organizational-legal form (see, for example, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution "On the Establishment of the State Aviation Search and Rescue Service" No. 1172 dated September 08, 2004).

The State Specialized Enterprise Marine Emergency and Salvage Service is an integral part of the marine search and rescue system of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine and carries out its activities at the state and regional levels (the order of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine No. 748 dated October 31, 2001). This enterprise has the functions of the National Marine Search and Rescue Service (joint order of the Ministry of Transport and Emergencies of Ukraine No. 162/56 dated 04.03.2003).

State Enterprise "Delta-Lotsman" is the main enterprise in the system of safety of navigation in Ukraine. The specified enterprise is entrusted with performing the functions of search and rescue at sea, creating a unified monitoring system through technical re-equipment and improvement of the work of coastal and satellite information and navigation infrastructures, providing proper organization of safety of navigation and rescue in the marine zone of Ukraine's responsibility, as well as information provision of marine enterprises the industry in relation to the movement of ships and cargoes, other activities in the field of safety of navigation ( rykaz Myntranssvyazy №945 from 18.09.2006 g).

Information support in emergencies serves as a basis for decision-making at all levels. The Main State Inspection of Ukraine on the safety of navigation controls and coordinates the activities of emergency rescue services on sea transport, as well as checks their readiness for work on the prevention and elimination of the consequences of accidents, catastrophes (paragraph 4 of the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated December 30, 1998, No. 2098 )

In accordance with the requirements of Art. 5 of the Law of Ukraine "On Emergency and Rescue Service", permanent and obligatory maintenance of emergency rescue services is subject to the construction of transport enterprises, organizations with increased requirements to the level of safety of their operation (in particular, sea trading ports, ship repair and shipbuilding factories, shipping companies located in the sphere of management of the Ministry of Transport and Communications), as well as water facilities, including the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov (in the area of responsibility of Ukraine).

In accordance with the recommendations of paragraphs 2.5.3 and 2.5.4 of the MAMPS Manual, appropriate search and rescue teams and specialized search and rescue teams (i.e. groups with special training and equipment created for specific marine rescue scenarios) SAR.

Therefore, it is also crucial to improve the organization, provision and operation of specially designed emergency rescue services (see the order of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine "On approval of the model provision for emergency rescue services of enterprises of Ukrmorichflot" of 03.10.2002, No. 705) indicated entities of economic activity of the marine search and rescue system of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine, as well as designated search and rescue teams and specialized searches ovo-rescue teams of the national marine search and rescue system. The structural schemes of the components of these systems are presented in Annexes 1, 2.

The basic document of the sea search and rescue system is the long-term (usually five-year) single national plan (see recommendations of paragraphs 5.2.5., 5.2.11 to 5.2.13 of the IAMTS Manual), which must be approved by the relevant decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

"... The first lifeboat arrived at the scene 25 minutes after" Admiral Nakhimov "went to the bottom. It was a pilotage boat Л К-90, which was commanded by a replaceable assistant captain, mechanic V. Belovol. In total on that terrible night the command of a boat has saved 84 persons.

146 passengers from the deceased "Admiral Nakhimov" saved a military boat with 8 sailors aboard under the command of Mrs. A. Gusev.

The midshipman, who was on duty at the berth, accepted the call as a signal of a military alert: "Admiral Nakhimov steams a stead in 15 kilometers from the port. Need help ... "After 6 minutes, the boundary boat had already traveled along the waves of Tsames Bay. After 11 minutes, the sailors were in place. However, the ship, lit with bright lights, did not turn out. He sank down. In 800 meters there was a black shadow of the dry cargo vessel "Peter Vasev", which rammed a passenger ship ... "

The Ukrainian marine region of search and rescue should be a (part of the GMSKC search and rescue) area of ​​a certain size, within which search and rescue operations are provided. Information about the maritime area in which Ukraine has agreed to assume responsibility for SAR issues should be published in the SAR Plan of the International Maritime Organization. The seaborne search and rescue area is established on the basis of an agreement between States (see the recommendations of paragraph 2.3.15 of the MAMPS Manual). The agreement on cooperation between the Black Sea countries in the search and rescue of the Black Sea (Article 5) also provides: "Search and rescue areas are established on the basis of bilateral and / or multilateral agreements between the Parties. The parties shall inform each other about the conclusion of such agreements ".

Therefore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine together with the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine needs to intensify the process of preparation and signing of bilateral international agreements between Ukraine and Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Georgia and the Russian Federation on the establishment of boundaries of the relevant national search and rescue regions in the Black and Azov Seas.

At present, for the effective provision of marine search and rescue in the area of responsibility of Ukraine it is necessary:

  • to create and improve the marine search and rescue system of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, as well as the national system of sea search and rescue, based on the interaction of central executive authorities (having power and means of rescue under their jurisdiction and in the sphere of activity). To provide state support for the development and operation of these systems;
  • draft, approve and approve draft regulations "On the marine search and rescue system of the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine", "On the National Marine Search and Rescue System", as well as "On the National Marine Search and Rescue Service", as appropriate, by the relevant regulatory acts as soon as possible;
  • to develop international cooperation in search and rescue at sea. To use the positive world experience in the organization of emergency rescue services and emergency rescue operations;
  • to ensure the functioning of a comprehensive monitoring system of the surface conditions in the Azov-Black Sea basin;
  • to develop navigation-hydrographic, hydrometeorological and other types of support for the purpose of integration and rational use of milestones of complexes and means of various departmental subordination;
  • to provide for the development and approval (a normative act of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine) of uniform technical requirements for ensuring the readiness of forces and means of sea search and rescue in the zone of responsibility of Ukraine.

An important instrument for the effective implementation of the recommendations of the International Convention on the Search and Rescue of the Sea of ​​1979 (the Convention was ratified by the Supreme Council of Ukraine Decree No. 2786-XII of 17.11.1992) and the requirements of a single national SAR plan should be a long-term national program for the organization of forces and creation means of sea search and rescue. In accordance with the Law of Ukraine "On State Target Programs" (Articles 6, 10), state-wide programs submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine are approved by laws.

In particular, it should be noted that in the event of the need for the development and implementation of a state target program to eliminate the consequences of emergencies, the program concept is not being developed. The development of state target programs is carried out in accordance with the norms of the laws of Ukraine "On emergency rescue services" (Article 34), "On state forecasting and development of programs of economic and social development of Ukraine", Temporary methodological recommendations for the development of state target programs approved by the order of the Ministry economy and on issues of European integration of Ukraine No. 114 dated May 08, 2003, and other normative-legal acts.

"... By 9 am on September 1, all who could still be saved were saved (only 836 people). Then the bodies of the dead were already taken. The hope that the airbag formed on the boat and there were still alive people did not come true. Mediocre excitement continued. Under all rules, under such conditions divers can not work. Nevertheless, diving work continued. The steamer fell to a hole in the seabed, access to it was limited. To survey the ship, divers had to use hatches, cut through the body.

The search work led about two dozen special ships. Rescue vessels Amethyst, Cheetah, Antares have been operating at the scene. At their disposal there was a full range of diving equipment, a baroque chamber, a TV installation ... "

Further improvement of the state system of safety of navigation envisages the development (implementation) of the draft state program for improving the functioning of the state system of safety of navigation for 2008-2012, and also assumes observance of the norms of the main international legal documents and acts of the national legislation in the field of creation and operation of the search system. and rescue in the marine zone of Ukraine's responsibility. In particular, conventions and agreements:

  • The Convention on the High Seas (1958/1992, the second date - the year of Ukraine's accession to the convention);
  • International Convention for the Intervention on the High Seas in the Case of Accidents Caused by Oil Pollution (1969);
  • International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (1974/1992), followed by protocols;
  • International Convention on Search and Rescue at Sea (1979-1992);
  • United Nations International Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982);
  • International Convention on Rescue (Property) (1989/2006);
  • International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (1990);
  • Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea (1992);
  • Agreement on cooperation between the Black Sea countries in search and rescue on the Black Sea (1998/2002);
  • Guide for Captains "Disaster to the Sea and Rescue (Property)" (1998);
  • Guide to International Aviation and Marine Search and Rescue (1999);
  • Admiralty List of Radio Signals (2006);

laws of Ukraine:

  • "On the emergency rescue service" (1999);
  • "On Protection of Population and Territories from Emergencies of Technogenic and Natural Character" (2000);
  • Code of Merchant Shipping of Ukraine;
  • "About enterprises in Ukraine";
  • "On a state of emergency";

decrees of the President of Ukraine:

  • "On the system of response to emergencies on water objects" dated 15.06.2001;
  • "On the Regulations on the Ministry of Ukraine for Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chornobyl Catastrophe" of 10.10.2005, No. 1430/2005;
  • "On the improvement of the unified system of conducting aviation works on search, rescue and organization of protection of the population from the consequences of emergencies" dated March 04, 2004, No. 269/2004;
  • "On Measures for the Implementation of a Unified Aviation Search and Rescue System in Ukraine" dated 09.09.1997 No. 937/97;

Decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

  • "On approval of the plan of interaction between the authorities and forces involved in responding to emergency situations at the state level on water objects" dated October 26, 2000 No. 1612;
  • "On the main measures to establish in Ukraine a subsystem of rescue and liquidation of hazardous water pollution of the unified state system of prevention and response to emergency situations of anthropogenic and natural character" dated October 5, 1998, No. 1599;
  • "On Approval of the State Program for Improving the Functioning of the State System of Security of Navigation for 2002-2006" of 28.01.2002 No. 96;
  • "On ensuring the safety of navigation in the city of Sevastopol" dated 28.12.2000, No. 1933;
  • "On the Establishment of the State Aviation Search and Rescue Service" dated September 08, 2004 No. 1172;
  • "On the Uniform State System for Prevention and Response to Emergencies of Technogenic and Natural Character" dated August 3, 1998, No. 1198;
  • "On Approval of the Procedure for State Registration of Emergency and Rescue Services" dated March 7, 2001, No. 213;
  • "On Approval of the Regulations on the Organization of Notification and Communication in Emergencies" dated February 15, 1999, No. 192;

Orders of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine:

  • "On Approval of the Integrated Program for the Development of the Communication, Alert and Informatization System of the Ministry for Emergencies of Ukraine for 2004-2010" of 04.03.2004 №109-p;

Orders of the Ministry of Transport (Ministry of Transport and Communications) of Ukraine:

  • "On introduction of the Global Maritime Communication System in case of disaster and for ensuring the safety of navigation" dated 07.07.1998, No. 271;
  • "On Establishment of the Marine Rescue Service of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine" dated July 4, 2001, No. 411;
  • "On Approval of the Statute of the Marine Emergency and Rescue Service and its Financing" dated October 31, 2001 No. 788;
  • "On Approval of Regulations on Search and Rescue at Sea" dated September 10, 2002 No. 643;
  • "On Approving the Model Provision on Emergency and Rescue Services of Ukrmorrichflot enterprises" dated 03.10.2002, No. 705;
  • "On improvement of the state system of safety of navigation" of 04.03.2003, number 162/56 (joint order of the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Emergencies);
  • "On the improvement of the functioning of the state system of safety of navigation" of 18.09.2006, No. 945, and others.

"... The court, which was held in Odessa 7 months after the tragedy, recognized the captains guilty of collision equally and sentenced the captain of the dry cargo vessel" Peter Vasev "VI Tkachenko and the captain of the steamship "Admiral Nakhimov" V.G. Markov to 15 years imprisonment.

Separately, material was highlighted about deficiencies in the activities of the Novorossiysk emergency rescue service (ASTP) of the Black Sea Shipping Company, whose court arrived late in the disaster area "

It is known that Ukraine is a party to a number of major international conventions. In particular, it should be remembered that the Guide to International Aviation and Marine Search and Rescue (paragraph 1.3.1) states:

"As a party to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), the International Convention on the Search and Rescue of the Sea or the Convention on International Civil Aviation, each Party undertakes to provide, to a certain extent, coordination and services in the field of aviation and / or maritime SAR. The international community expects these commitments to be fulfilled. "