A Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre, MRCC, is responsible for Mission Co-Ordination. The Swedish MRCC, Sweden Rescue, is located in Gothcnburg together with the Swedish ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Co-Ordination Centre), the Swedish Coastguard and the Defence Forces Navy Control.
MRCC Gothenburg is staffed around the clock and various distress channels are monitored continuously. When a distress call is received by MRCC, the SMC (SAR Mission Co-Ordinator) assesses the extent of the accident, classifies the phase of the mission (uncertainty, alert or distress) and draws up a so-called General Decision, which is intended as a guideline for the implementation and accomplishment of the entire mission. Appropriate SRU (Search and Rescue Units) are then alerted, instructed and conducted throughout the mission by the SMC and his staff at MRCC Gothenburg.
In case of major or extraordinary SAR missions, experts such as fire-engineers, maritime inspectors, police and medical experts, can be called in to assist the SMC at the MRCC.
MRCC has sophisticated technical equipment and computer programmes for handling telephone and radio communication, electronic chart systems, calculating search areas, registers etc.
MRCC also has access to a coast-radio network system, owned by Telia Mobile, to ensure reliable means of communication with seafarers, merchant vessels as well as fishing vessels and pleasure boats, and to keep in contact with SRUs on the maritime VHF and MF distress channel and certain traffic channels.
Most distress calls reach MRCC via the telephone network through the national emergency number (112) or via the maritime VHF distress channel 16, which is continuously monitored at MRCC.
The radio signal call sign of MRCC Gothenburg is "Sweden Rescue" on maritime radio frequencies.
In the event of a search mission at sea, a search-area is calculated at MRCC and passed on to the vessels, aircraft and helicopters participating in the search. The size and position of the search area are mainly determined by the type of object to be searched for, winds and currents in the area and also on the time-lapse since the accident is estimated to have occurred. These factors are calculated by a computer programme which, in addition to giving an actual search area, also presents other important information such as POD (Probability of Detection) and time required for searching the area, depending on the availability and speed of SRUs and the search techniques used in the search.
In SAR missions involving a large number of vessels, boats and helicopters, some form of on-scene co-ordination is rcquired. Under these cir- cumstances the SMC may choose to appoint someone to assist as OSC to co-ordinate the units on the scene of the accident.
The OSCs primary task is to co-ordinate the mission on location according to the SMCs directives, to organize the participating SRUs and keep MRCC informed on the progress of the mission and request reinforcement if required.
The SMC can appoint any person he sees fit to act as OSC. The OSC should be familiar with the SRUs and their equipment and crews and also have sufficient knowledge of the geographical area. Captains onboard SRUs and merchant vessels may be used as OSC.
In each SAR Area the Swedish Maritime Administration has a number of specially trained OSCs.
A temporary OSC can be appointed until one of the trained OSCs has reached the scene.
