comdtinst m16114.32c - U.S. Coast Guard

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 3 – Standards of Boat Operations
Section N. Surface Swimmers
Introduction
N.1. Training
Requirements
This section discusses guidance and procedures for the use of surface
swimmers. Surface swimmers can be deployed from cutters or boats for
planned operations (e.g. beached buoy recovery) or while conducting SAR
(e.g. to recover persons in the water).
Surface swimmers deployed from boats shall comply with References
(f), (o), (p) for equipment and techniques and Reference (cc) for PQS.
N.2. Recertification The Boat Crew Member Surface Swimmer qualification task BCM-07-03
ANY has been aligned with Reference (jj).
NOTE
If swimmer is deployed directly from a cutter, then Reference (jj) applies.
N.3. Unit
Requirements
The probability and complexity of surface swimmer deployment vary
from AOR to AOR and with each mission.
CO/OICS may specify, based on AOR requirements, semi-annual (or
annual) completion of BCM-07-03 ANY as part of crewmember
currency requirements.
N.4. Risk
Management
Placing a surface swimmer in the water to aid a person in distress (or
other operations) should only be exercised when:
(01) No other possible method of assistance exists.
(02) The risk factors have been appropriately assessed.
(03) The potential for success sufficiently justifies the risk.
(04) The action can be taken without unduly placing the swimmer’s
safety at risk.
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