RESCUE BOAT

OPERATOR
SEARCH CARDS

TP-INT-05-03
CONTENTS RESCUE BOAT OPERATOR SEARCH CARDS

FIRST ISSUE - Date of Inception Page

Cover Page / Contents (this page) JUN 2018

SMEAC Briefing JUN 2018 1

Incident Form JUN 2018 2

Situation Report Form (SITREP) JUN 2018 4

Weather Terminologies JUN 2018 5

Sweep Width, Track Spacing and Searched Area JUN 2018 6

Sweep Width Table JUN 2018 7

Expanding Square Drift Search Pattern JUN 2018 8

Sector Drift Search Pattern JUN 2018 9

Parallel Track Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 10

Creeping Line Ahead Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 11

Keyhole Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 12

Track Line Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 13

Goalkeeper Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 14

Line Abreast Area Search Pattern JUN 2018 15

Terminology
COG – Course Over Ground
CSP – Commence Search Position
OSC – On-Scene Coordinator
SMC – Search Mission Coordinator
SOG – Speed Over Ground
SRU – Search and Rescue Unit

TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD SMEAC Briefing

S
SITUATION
•• Ground:
•• Hazards:
•• Weather:
•• Tide:
•• Other agencies:
•• Event:

M
MISSION
•• Our mission is:
•• In order to:

E
EXECUTION
•• General outline:
•• Grouping/tasks:
•• Emergency plan:

A
ADMINISTRATION
•• Dress:
•• Equipment:
•• Food/water:
•• Medical:
•• Transport:
•• Casualty routine/
evacuation:

C
COMMAND AND
COMMUNICATION
•• Type:
•• Call signs:
•• Lost comms:
•• Frequency/talkgroup:
•• Ops normal:
•• Confirmation of
understanding
•• Questions:

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Incident Form

1. Description of incident:

2. Search Target:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Search Type:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4. Commence Search Position (CSP):. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5. Direction of first leg (COG):. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6. Leg length: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7. First turn left or right (if applicable): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8. Track spacing: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9. Number of legs:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Or, overall search width: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10. Search Speed (SOG): . . . . . . . . .

Advise SMC when commencing second to last leg

Any other information:

Such as:
•• Weather on scene
•• Other vessels in area

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

NOTES

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Page 3
 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Situation Report Form (SITREP)

To be passed every 30 minutes, or when the situation changes, to the search mission co-ordinator (SMC)

From Lifeboat to SMC (Arrival on scene and every 30 mins):

SITREP Number:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Position: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lifeboat Course: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Speed: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Any other information:

Such as:
•• Weather on scene
•• Other vessels in area

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Weather Terminologies

Beaufort Wind Scale

WIND SPEED
FORCE DESCRIPTION SEA CHARACTERISTICS KNOTS M.P.H. Km/H

0 Calm Like a mirror. 1-3 1-3 2-6

1 Light
Air
Ripples like scales are formed. 1-3 1-3 2-6

2 Light
breeze
Small wavelets, still short but more pronounced, not
breaking.
4-6 4-7 7-11

3 Gentle
breeze
Large wavelets, crests begin to break; a few
white horses. 7-10 8-12 12-19

4 Moderate
breeze
Small waves growing longer; fairly frequent white
horses.
11-16 13-18 20-28

5 Fresh
breeze
Moderate waves, taking more pronounced form; many
white horses, perhaps some spray. 17-21 19-24 29-38

6 Strong
breeze
Large waves forming; white foam crests more exten-
sive; probably some spray.
22-27 25-31 39-49

7 Near
gale
Sea heaps up; white foam from breaking waves begins
to blow in streaks. 28-33 32-38 50-61

Moderately high waves of greater length; edge of

8 Gale crests break into spindrift; foam blown in well-marked
streaks.
34-40 39-46 62-74

9 Strong
gale
High waves with tumbling crests; dense streaks of
foam; spray may affect visibility.
41-47 47-54 75-88

Very high waves with long overhanging crests; dense

10 Storm streams of foam make surface of sea white. Heavy
tumbling sea; visibility affected.
48-55 55-63 89-102

Exceptionally high waves; sea completely covered

11 Violent
storm
with long white patches of foam; edges of wave crests 56-63
blown into froth. Visibility affected.
64-73 103-117

12 Hurricane Air filled with foam and spray; sea completely white
with driving spray; visibility very seriously affected. 64 plus 74 plus 118 plus

Definitions of visibility at sea Swell height definitions

Area Forecast Visibility (in nautical miles) CALM = less than 0.1 metres
Very Good = more than 30 miles SMOOTH = 0.1 to 0.5 metres
Good = 5 - 30 miles SLIGHT = 0.5 to 1.25 metres
Moderate = 2 - 5 miles MODERATE = 1.25 to 2.5 metres
Poor = 1000 metres - 2 miles ROUGH = 2.5 to 4 metres
Fog = less than 1000 metres VERY ROUGH = 4 to 6 metres
HIGH = 6 to 9 metres
VERY HIGH = 9 to 14 metres
PHENOMENAL = in excess of 14 metres

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Sweep Width, Track Spacing and Searched Area

Sweep Width
How far the crew will look out from either side of the vessel.

0.1

0.1

Sweep width = 0.2

Track Spacing
The distance between each track.

Track Spacing

Searched Area
The result of using sweep width and track spacing cover the search area.
Searched
Area

Page 6
 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Sweep Width Table

WIND SPEED / SEA STATE ON-SCENE

<16kts/<0.6m Sea 16-25kts/0.6m-1.2m >25kts/>1.2m Sea

ASSUMED SPEEDS

TARGET TYPE 20 knots 12 knots 8 knots

PERSON IN WATER SWEEP WIDTHS

Visibility <3NM 30secs (0.17 nm) 30secs (0.10 nm) 30secs (0.07 nm)

LIFERAFT

Visibility 1NM 2mins 30secs (0.83 nm) 2mins (0.40 nm) 1min 30secs (0.20 nm)

Visibility 3NM 6mins (2.00 nm) 5mins (1.00 nm) 3mins 45secs (0.50 nm)

Visibility 5NM 8mins (2.66 nm) 6mins 45secs (1.35 nm) 5mins (0.67 nm)

POWER AND MFV <5m

Visibility 1NM 1min 15secs (0.42 nm) 1min (0.20 nm) 45secs (0.10 nm)

<5m Visibility 3NM 2mins 30secs (0.83 nm) 2mins (0.40 nm) 1min 30secs (0.20 nm)

POWER & MFV 5m-15m

5m-15m
Visibility 1NM 2mins 30secs (0.83 nm) 2mins (0.40 nm) 1min 30secs (0.20 nm)

ASSUMED SPEED

TARGET TYPE 10 knots

PERSON IN WATER SWEEP WIDTH

Visibility <3NM 60secs (0.17 nm)

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Expanding Square Drift Search Pattern

6
3x Track
Space
Heading

Time

90
2 90
O O

1x Track
Space
Heading

Time

9 5 1
5x Track
Space 3x Track
Space 1x Track
Space
Heading Heading Heading 90O 90
O

Time Time Time

3 7
2x Track
Space 4x Track
Space
Speed Heading Heading

Time Time

90O 90O
4
2x Track
Space
Heading

Time

90
O
90O
8
4x Track
Space
Heading

Time

• Use a compass and stopwatch only

• Get the speed and timings from the table on Page 7
• Set the speed on the first leg and do not adjust
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7
• Multiply the leg timings as per diagram.

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Sector Drift Search Pattern

Leg length increased

Leg length equal to
up to 2 x track spacing
one track spacing
120
O

120O He
ad
ing 2
Tim
e

1
Heading
120O
Time

Speed
120O
ing
ad
He
ad
ing
6 He

e
Tim
3
Tim
e

5
Heading

Time
120O

ing
He
ad
ing
7
ad
He Tim
e
e
Tim

120 O 4

9
Heading
120
O

Time

ing
ad
He

e
Tim

120
O 8

ALL TURNS ARE MADE 120 TO STARBOARD O

• Place a datum in the water (Fender/Buoy with line)

• Use a compass and a stopwatch only
• Get the speed and timings from the sweep width table on Page 7
• Set the speed on the first leg and do not adjust
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7.

2nd Sector Search

• Add 30 degrees to your initial heading and double the time.

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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Parallel Track Area Search Pattern

Heading Time Speed

CSP

Searched Area
Track
Heading Time Spacing

Heading

Time
*
Heading Time
Heading

Time

*
Heading Time

Heading

Time
*

• CSP should be 1/2 track spacing inside search area

• The casualty could be anywhere in the area
• GPS can be used
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7
• *Get timings for short legs from table on Page 7.

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Creeping Line Ahead Area Search Pattern

* Heading * Heading
A CSP
Time Time
B

Searched Heading

Area
Time
Heading Heading

Time Time

Heading
Heading
Time
Time
Speed

Track
Spacing

* Heading
* Heading
track
space
D C
Time Time

• CSP should be 1/2 track spacing inside search area

• The casualty could be anywhere in the area
• GPS can be used
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7
• *Get the timings for short legs from the table on Page 7.

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Keyhole Area Search Pattern

Speed

Time
Time

Time

Time

Time

Time

Time

Heading
Heading

Heading

Heading

Heading

Heading

Heading
• A Creeping Line Ahead, adjusted to suit river / sandbanks
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7
• Get timings for short legs from table on Page 7.

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Track Line Area Search Pattern

Heading Time Speed

Likely track of casualty

• The direction of the search follows the likely track of the casualty
• Get the sweep width (how far to look) from the table on Page 7.

NOTES
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Page 13
 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Goalkeeper Search Pattern

DIRECTION OF DRIFT

• Search across the tide / river for a short distance whilst the
casualty is drifting towards you
• Combination of area / drift search.

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

SEARCH CARD Line Abreast Area Search Pattern

Heading Time Speed

• The casualty could be anywhere in the area

• Each vessel one sweep width apart – get the distance from the
table on Page 7
• GPS and RADAR can be used
• All vessels to do the same speed.

NOTES
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 TP-INT-05-03 June 2018

NOTES

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