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

Part 2 – Operations and Missions
Chapter 5 – Mission Types
Initial Action
B.10. Unit Initial
Action
After the initial report of an emergency or potential emergency is
evaluated and assigned an emergency phase (i.e., DISTRESS, ALERT,
or UNCERTAINTY), the unit has one of three possible actions:
(01) Dispatch an SRU immediately, or request other facilities (i.e.,
another agency) to act (i.e., DISTRESS phase).
(03)
a) Units are authorized to respond without specific tasking from
the SMC if it is within the guidelines the SMC has previously
provided.
b) May conduct initial response search planning for single unit
response SAR incidents.
(02) Act in accordance with the Maritime SAR Assistance Policy
incidents classified as non-distress.
Notify their Operational Commander or other response agencies
and ask for direction.
for
SAR Planning
B.11. Planning
Procedures
SAR planning should be conducted by the SMC. Typically, SAR
planning for a unit should be restricted to planning for the initial, singleunit
response and should include these steps:
(01) Utilize Operational Risk Management (ORM) and the principles
of Team Coordination Training to determine what response, if
any, is appropriate.
(02) Select the appropriate resource, equipment, and crewing.
(03) Establish datum [i.e., the most probable location of the distressed
vessel(s) or person(s)].
(04) Develop initial response search plans and designation of an OSC.
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