1.2 Co-ordination by land-based authorities
1.2.1 Certain governments vest responsibility in designated land-based
authorities to exercise general co-ordination and to supervise, as appropriate, the conduct of search and rescue operations. This task is usually carried out by units established for coordinating search and rescue in designated areas. The units are usually -referred to as rescue co-ordination centres (RCC) or rescue sub-centres (RSC) and the areas as search and rescue regions (SRR).
1.2.2 In some regions these authorities have specialized ships and aircraft (SAR units) available to participate in these tasks. Other aircraft and ships, military and naval or otherwise, which have a SAR capability are also employed as available. When incidents occur in remote regions, SAR aircraft may not always be able to participate.
1.2.3 In the majority of regions, merchant ships will normally be able to participate although the degree will depend on shipping density. In this context the role of coast radio stations (CRS) is of special importance because they are in close contact with land-based SAR authorities.
1.2.4 An example of national distress alerting and search and rescue organization: