GEN 3.6 SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)

1 RESPONSIBLE SERVICE(S)

Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre Den Helder

Operations (H24):

Tel: +31 (0)900 0111 (alarm)
+31 (0)88 958 4000

Email: [email protected]

Administration:

Post:

Netherlands Coastguard
JRCC Den Helder
P.O. Box 10000
1780 CA Den Helder
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)223 658 300

Email: [email protected]

URL: http://www.kustwacht.nl

The search and rescue service in the Netherlands territory and adjacent area of the North Sea is organised in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices of ICAO Annex 12. The operations are performed by military and civil organisations under the operational co-ordination of the Director of The Netherlands Coastguard.

1.1 Applicable ICAO documents
Annex 12Search and Rescue
Annex 13Aircraft Accident Inquiry
Doc 7030Regional Supplementary Procedures (EUR Region)
Doc 9731International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual

2 AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

Amsterdam FIR and North Sea area V.

3 TYPES OF SERVICE

Details of the rescue co-ordination centre and related rescue units are given in the table hereafter. In addition, elements of the State police organisation, air force and merchant marine can be made available for search and rescue missions when required, while aeronautical and maritime telecommunication services are available to SAR organisation.

The RCC is equipped to communicate on channel 123.100 and CHs 2182, 3023, 3458, 5680, 6550 kHz and 156.375, 156.800, 282.800 MHz.

Aircraft and/or marine craft are equipped to communicate on CHs 121.500, 123.100 and FREQs 3023, 3458, 5680, 6550, 8364 kHz and 156.375, 156.800, 243.000, 282.800 MHz.

SAR aircraft and marine craft are equipped with UHF direction finding equipment and radar.

Aircraft available for SAR are not amphibious, but are capable of dropping survival equipment consisting of inflatable rubber dinghies furnished with medical supplies, emergency rations and sea survival kits.

there is a direct speech circuit between RCC and related ATC units.
Aeronautical rescue units
NameLocationFacilitiesRemarks (Endurance / Speed / Capacity / PN)
1234
AMSTERDAM/Schiphol521829N 0044551Eaeroplane
Dash 8		8-9 HR / 180 KT / - / 60-90 MIN PN.
  • AVBL DLY H24.
  • Radius 500 NM (with 3.5 HR on scene).
  • 2 droppable life rafts MAX 7 casualties.
DEN HELDER/De Kooy525500N 0044700Ehelicopter
AW189		3.5-5 HR / 140 KT / 16 casualties / 20 MIN PN.
  • AVBL DLY H24.
  • Radius 220 NM (with 30 MIN on scene).
  • Casualties depending on combination with MAX 2 stretchers.
MIDDELBURG/Midden-Zeeland513044N 0034352Ehelicopter
AW189		3.5-5 HR / 140 KT / 16 casualties / 20 MIN PN.
  • AVBL DLY H24.
  • Radius 220 NM (with 30 MIN on scene).
  • Casualties depending on combination with MAX 2 stretchers.
Maritime rescue units (North Sea coast)
NameLocationFacilitiesRemarks (Endurance / Speed / Capacity / PN)
1234
Ameland532609N 0054306ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Breskens512345N 0033357ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Cadzand512239N 0032253ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Callantsoog525015N 0044138ERB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Den Helder525746N 0044736ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Dordrecht514312N 0043736ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Eemshaven532648N 0064910ERB7 HR / 35 KT / 90 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Egmond aan Zee523659N 0043715ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Hansweert512716N 0040042ERB7 HR / 35 KT / 90 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Harlingen531030N 0052440ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Hoek van Holland515851N 0040739ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
IJmuiden522733N 0043543ERB16 HR / 31 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Katwijk aan Zee521239N 0042404ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Lauwersoog532431N 0061149ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Neeltje Jans513717N 0034054ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Noordwijk aan Zee521458N 0042614ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Ouddorp514757N 0035600ERB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Petten524619N 0043939ERB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Scheveningen520602N 0041549ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Schiermonnikoog532835N 0060937ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Stellendam514937N 0040148ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Ter Heijde520126N 0040932ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Terschelling532125N 0051257ERB16 HR / 35 KT / 120 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Texel531024N 0045218ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Veere513224N 0034006ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Vlieland531734N 0050513ERB7 HR / 35 KT / 90 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Westkapelle513124N 0032632ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Wijk aan Zee522937N 0043551ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Zandvoort522221N 0043136ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Maritime rescue units (IJsselmeer coast)
NameLocationFacilitiesRemarks (Endurance / Speed / Capacity / PN)
1234
Andijk524446N 0051103ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Blaricum521806N 0051808ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Den Oever (Waddenzee and IJsselmeer)525542N 0050254ERB3 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Elburg522727N 0054916ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Enkhuizen524208N 0051754ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Hindeloopen525642N 0052411ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Huizen521818N 0051424ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Lelystad523104N 0052612ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Lemmer525033N 0054254ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Marken522734N 0050607ERB6 HR / 34 KT / 50 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Medemblik524613N 0050658ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Urk523932N 0053612ERB7 HR / 35 KT / 90 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
RB3 HR / 32 KT / 12-15 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Warder523357N 0050154ERB6 HR / 35 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.
Wijdenes523751N 0051017ERB5 HR / 32 KT / 20 casualties / 10 MIN PN.

4 SAR AGREEMENTS

An agreement has been concluded between the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the provision of assistance within the sea and coastal area bounded by the north coast of the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany.

When the Dutch aeronautical rescue and co-ordination centre (ARCC) requests the assistance of suitable SAR aircraft from a neighbouring State RCC, it will provide all pertinent details on the scope of the assistance required. Entry and flight of the requested SAR aircraft into or over the territory of the Netherlands for the purpose of conducting SAR operations may be conducted in accordance with the procedures and approvals granted by the State of the operator of the aircraft. If it is necessary for the requested SAR aircraft to land at a Dutch airfield or heliport or to make use of other facilities in the course of performing its assigned SAR task, the Dutch ARCC will coordinate arrangements and liaise with the appropriate organisations to facilitate the taking of such measures or actions.

Requests for entry of aircraft, equipment and personnel from other States, that are not contracted by the Dutch authorities, to engage in the search for aircraft in distress or to rescue survivors of aircraft accidents should be transmitted to the joint rescue co-ordination centre Den Helder in accordance with ICAO Annex 12, chapter 2.

5 CONDITIONS OF AVAILABILITY

The SAR service and facilities in the Netherlands are available without charge to neighbouring States upon request to the joint rescue co-ordination centre (JRCC) Den Helder at all times when they are not engaged in SAR operations in their home territory.

6 PROCEDURES AND SIGNALS USED

6.1 Procedures

Procedures for pilots-in-command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call and/or message are outlined in ICAO Annex 12, chapter 5.

6.2 Communications

Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Netherlands search and rescue area are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10 (Aeronautical Telecommunications), Volume II, chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.

For communications during search and rescue operations, the codes and abbreviations published in ICAO Doc 8400 (Codes and Abbreviations) can be used.

Information concerning positions, call signs, channels and operational hours of Netherlands civil aeronautical stations, direction finding stations and MILATCC Schiphol is published in ENR 2.1.

Aeronautical stations continuously guard the international emergency channel 121.500.
MIL aeronautical stations will guard the military emergency channel 243.000 MHz.
The JRCC will continuously guard the international distress channel 156.800 MHz (VHF16).

  • During SAR activities JRCC Den Helder will use the call sign: Den Helder Rescue.
  • Rescue aircraft involved in SAR activities will use call signs and additional identification marks as follows:
    -fixed wing aircraft:Rescue 01, 03, 05, 07, etc.
    -helicopters:Rescue 02, 04, 06, 08, etc.
  • Rescue aircraft involved in SAR exercises will use call signs and additional identification marks as follows:
    -fixed wing aircraft:SAREX 01, 03, 05, 07, etc.
    -helicopters:SAREX 02, 04, 06, 08, etc.
6.3 Search and rescue signals

The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, Appendix.