 |
 |
Established international treaties and national laws and regulations contain basic provisions to ensure the safety of life at sea.
- In the Federal Republic of Germany, the DGzRS SAR Action Plan www.mrcc.de applies in addition to these provisions, in order to increase safety at sea and facilitate conducting search and rescue of seagoing vessels and aircrafts in the German maritime zones set by the Federal Ministry of Transport.
The German maritime search and rescue service conferred to DGzRS by Germany’s Ministry of Transport consists of:
- Undertaking maritime search and rescue missions (agreement with the MoT, on 11.3.82)
- Maritime rescue coordination by the co-ordination centre (MRCC) in Bremen (agreement with the MoT, on 11.3.82)
- Monitoring VHF channels 16 and 70 for emergency and safety purposes and handling distress, emergency and safety calls on VHF radio in the German SAR region. (Conferral by the MoT on 7.11.96)
- Assisting the military SAR service in search and rescue missions for aircrafts and assuming the responsibilities of a regional search centre (MoT Directive, on 8.8.53, administrative agreement. MoT / Ministry of Defence Sept. 1969)
- Evacuating critically sick or injured people on board ships at sea and instigating
immediate medical care (Agreement per correspondence with MoT / GMRS, 16/21.1.96)
- Agreement with the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies regarding co-operation with the MoT/Waterway Administration
- Participating in fire protection with regard to vessels in the coastal zone within the scope of rescue service and technical feasibility (Agreement per correspondence with MoT, May 1987)
- Mission according to the Geneva convention (The Federal Chancellor, on 18.3.64)
The international basic provisions are made up of
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974/79 (SOLAS).
- International Convention for Search and Rescue at Sea of 1979 (SAR).
- IAMSAR Manual, volumes I-III
- Health Protection and Medical Care (Seafarers) Convention No. 164 (ILO 8.10.87)
- The Geneva Convention of 1949
- The Brussels Convention of 1910
Objectives and duties
The main objectives and duties of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service are listed below:
- Saving human lives in danger at sea and providing first aid
- Coordinating all actions in emergencies at sea and when assisting missions within the German SAR territory.
- Monitoring VHF channels 16 and 70 for emergency and safety purposes as well as handling distress, emergency and safety radio calls on VHF in the German SAR region.
- Carrying out pre-emptive missions to secure potentially endangered vessels and crews
- Aid in evacuating crews from seagoing vessels and aircrafts out of immediate danger
- Transporting the sick and injured, including providing first aid to victims
- Taking any measures to prevent distress and accidents
- Assisting German vessels or crews in emergencies abroad
- Assisting units engaged in firefighting within the scope of feasibility
- Assisting the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies in disaster management.
|
 |
The patron of the DGzRS is the German Federal President
"The DGzRS is independently and single-handedly rendering an invaluable service to this country and to all those at sea. Probably, it is only the tens of thousands
of individuals who over decades have been rescued from a seemingly hopeless situation, who can truly judge the courage and bravery of the rescue crews.
However, the great number of friends and sponsors of the organisation proves the immeasurable esteem in which the maritime rescue service is held by the people of Germany. I wish the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service the best of luck for the future and God’s blessing."
Those were the words of the patron of the DGzRS, German Federal President Horst Köhler, as he paid tribute to the work of the rescue service.