NSAR 2008

SAR Planning

NSAR Rules

Photos by Mel Borofsky, Editor SITREP

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The purpose of this event is to evaluate the team’s basic understanding of navigation and chart reading and, their ability to develop a search plan when provided with all pertinent data regarding a maritime SAR incident and to complete the evolution in the time allotted.  Set and drift information (if required) will be provided and no tide calculations will be necessary.

Upon arrival at this event, the Team Coxswain will be provided with a large-scale nautical chart of the search area, parallel rulers, dividers, stationary supplies and a written narrative of the SAR scenario.

Once the scenario has been reviewed, each team will be required to plot on their nautical chart:

  1. The last known position (LKP) and the commence search point (CSP);
  2. The enroute course data from base to LKP and from LKP to CSP, and;
  3. The initial search pattern defining boundary, pattern type, leg length, track spacing, etc.;
  4. Positions within 0.1 minute of latitude and longitude;
  5. Times within 1 minute;
  6. Initial search pattern heading within 001 degree;
  7. Bearings used to determine LKP must be labeled with time and bearing;
  8. Dead reckoning plot must be labeled with course and speed;
  9. All bearings are TRUE unless otherwise noted;
  10. At least the initial search leg must be labeled with course and speed;
  11. Use search planning criteria as distributed from the Boat Crew Seamanship Manual;
  12. Judges can help teams interpret the scenario, but cannot provide any other information;
  13. There is a strict 45-minute time limit, after the judges have presented the scenario.

 

Scoring – This event will be worth 100 points.  Point allocation will be based on the correct execution of the plan and response to the questions posed.