Supported by:
Marine Accident Emergency Support Services
An internationally coordinated system to provide meteorological and oceanographic support to marine accident emergency response operations on the high seas is required due to the international nature of these situations.
Marine Pollution Emergency Response Support System for the high seas (MPERSS)
MPERSS's primary objective is to have in place a coordinated, global system for the provision of meteorological and oceanographic information for marine pollution emergency response operations outside waters under national jurisdiction. The areas covered have the same geographical distribution than those for the the GMDSS, and Area Meteorological Coordinators have been identified for all of them. more>
IOC Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Program
Harmful algae blooms are microscopic,single-celled plants that live in the sea. Most species of algae or phytoplankton are not harmful and serve as the energy producers at the base of the food web, without which higher life on this planet would not exist.The overall goal of the IOC HAB Programme is to foster the effective management of, and scientific research on, harmful algal blooms in order to understand their causes, predict their occurrences, and mitigate their effects. More information can be found at http://ioc.unesco.org/hab/default.htm
International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979
The 1979 Convention, adopted at a Conference in Hamburg, was aimed at developing an international SAR plan, so that, no matter where an accident occurs, the rescue of persons in distress at sea will be co-ordinated by a SAR organization and, when necessary, by co-operation between neighbouring SAR organizations. Find out more at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) here http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=653&topic_id=257
(Last Updated: 09-08-2007)