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

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 5 – Mission Types
SAR Communications
B.7. Objective
The objectives of SAR communications are:
(01) To obtain information on a distress incident and disseminate it
promptly to all units and commands capable of providing
assistance.
(02) To closely coordinate participants during the SAR operation in
order to save the lives and property involved.
B.8. SAR
Communications
Coordination
Units shall guard distress channels when the Sector cannot adequately
satisfy mission requirements (e.g. bad communications in a particular
area, equipment failure).
Coordination of SAR telecommunications closely follows the SAR
organization structure. Units, boats or vehicles, and personnel shall
communicate in accordance with the following:
(01) SMC selects SAR frequencies, informs OSC or SRUs, and
establishes communications with parent agencies.
(02) OSC controls communications on scene subject to the
instructions and direction of the SMC.
NOTE
SRUs communicate through the OSC. Boats shall communicate with the unit via
the OSC unless otherwise directed. Units are not normally staffed or trained to
maintain a continuous national distress system communications watch.
B.8.a. Role of
Unit
Communications
Watch
Frequently there is no requirement for units to maintain a live
communications watch. The decision to maintain such a watch must be
based on the unit operational tempo, communications capabilities of the
unit’s parent command, and the needs of the unit. If the unit maintains a
live communications watch or only while actively engaged in SAR, this
watch is an essential component in effective SAR communications
coordination.
2-98