CIRCULAR LETTER
MSC/Circ.1044

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE (IAMSAR) MANUAL.

(adopted on 21 May 2002)

1. The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its seventy-fifth session (15 to 24 May 2002) having been informed that the International Civil Aviation Organization had approved amendments to the IAMSAR Manual, as prepared by the Joint ICAO/IMO Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue and endorsed by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications, Search and Rescue at its sixth session (18 to 22 February 2002), adopted the annexed amendments in accordance with the procedure laid down in resolution A.894(21).

2. MSC 75 decided that the amendments should apply as from 1 July 2003.

ANNEX.

ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS* TO THE INTERNATIONAL AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE (IAMSAR) MANUAL.

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* These amendments relate to Volume III of the IAMSAR Manual only.

Add the following paragraph at the end of the topic - Contact with the Media, page 157:

" The rescue facility spokesperson should refer any request for personal opinions, comments on departmental policies, search rationale or matters dealing with sensitive matters to the appropriate RCC and/or higher authority."