The course will use BMT’s own highly successful software package, the Search and Rescue Information System (SARIS), to provide expertise on strategy, planning and competence by working through a mixture of practical and theoretical exercises.

SARIS was developed in 1996 in conjunction with the MCA to enable the drift modeling of vessels, objects and survivors at sea following a maritime accident. The software is in use around the world by organisations ranging from the Royal Navy to the Hong Kong Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Center (MRCC).

The first five day training course was held recently, with delegates attending from the UK’s MCA, the Royal Danish Navy and the Belgian Air Force amongst others. This course focused on Search Planning, and future modules will address the other seven identified SAR competence areas (SAR Mission Coordinator, On Scene Coordinator, Chart Work, Navigation, General Maritime, SAR Administration and Organisation, and GMDSS Coast Station Operations).

The programme also features IAMSAR best practice and IMO model course material and offers refresher training to help ensure competence is kept at the highest level over time.

The sessions are delivered by SAR operations experts who have been trained to the UK National Training standard and are designed to help trainees understand the concepts behind search planning methodology rather than simply an education in SAR systems. BMT will help enable students to assume greater responsibility over their choice of SARIS input data in order to properly understand the processes involved in Search and Rescue missions.

BMT proposes to undertake two courses each year in the UK and is currently exploring the possibility of joining forces with colleges overseas to implement regional training initiatives internationally. The date of the next course is yet to be confirmed but is likely to be in September or October of this year.