In order that surface units, and especially merchant ships on-scene, will be able to search effectively, in conjunction with

SAR aircraft when available, it is essential that search patterns and procedures should be preplanned to enable merchant ships of all flags to co-operate in coordinated operations with the minimum difficulty and delay. To achieve this aim, a number of search patterns to meet varying circumstances have been established. Available search patterns are as follows: 1. Expanding square search: for use by one ship 2. Sector search: for use by one ship (special cases - man overboard, etc.) 3. Parallel track: for use by two ships 4. Parallel track: for use by three ships 5. Parallel track: for use by four ships 6. Parallel track: for use by five or more ships 7. Ship/aircraft coordinated search: for use by ship and aircraft EXPANDING SQUARE SEARCH A type of search pattern suitable for a single ship which should search outward in expanding squares from the datum. Datum - The most probable position of the search target at a given time, taking into account the expected effect of drift since the initial position of the incident was established.

Sector Search Pattern 1 Ship For use when position of search target is known within close limits, with a small probable area. Examples.- (a) man overboard - ship returns immediately to datum. (b) search target is once sighted and then lost ship heads for datum.

PATTERN 2 Parallel track search - 2 ships

Direction of drift These search patterns give, in general, good visual coverage of the Sea. However, in circumstances in which the searching speed is slow, the formation on which the datum is based is incomplete or unreliable, or hen high drift rates are encountered, they have inevitable limitations. o an extent, these can be compensated for by the arrival of additional arch units, recomputing datum and the most probable area periodically, d expanding the search area more in one direction than in another.

DATUM S miles S miles S miles S miles S miles

Track 2

Track 1

PATERN 3 Parallel track search - 3 ships

Direction of drift

DATUM S miles S miles S miles S miles

S miles

Track 2

Track 1

Track 3

PATTERN 4 Parallel track search -- 4 ships

Direction of drift

S miles S miles Track 3 S miles Track 4

DATUM S miles S miles Track 2

S miles

S miles Track 1

PATTERN 6 Co-ordinated creeping line search 1 ship and 1 aircraft

The track spacings (S) shown in figure 5-6 are recommended for e with all the search patterns shown in this Manual except for the sector arch (pattern la). Figure 5-6 takes into account the type of search object d the meteorological visibility. Track spacings may be decreased slightly, wever, to increase the probability of detection, or may be increased htly to increase the area covered in a given time. Other factors may o be considered, including sea condition, time of day, position of the I effectiveness of observers, etc.

Ships course as directed by OSC

Asian Institute of Maritime Studies

ACTIVITY 1&2 KINDS OF SEARCH PATTERN MERSAR

BY: PANGANIBAN, RABROIE MT32-C5