The Head of Maritime SAR Operations, Mr. Andre Botes recently represented the MRCC South Africa at conferences and meetings in Europe, Canada and the U.K.

In Malmo, Sweden, at the World Maritime University, delegates from sixteen countries attended a conference on the subject of “Passenger ship safety including Mass Evacuations and SAR in Remote Areas”.

The joint committee of COSPAS and SARSAT met in Montreal, Canada for a conference to discuss amongst other things “New technologies in Satellite detection of Beacons”.
Also under discussion was “The phasing out of the 1215 MHZ distress beacon by February 2009 and developments regarding the International Beacon Registration Database”

The Swedish and Canadian conferences were attended by delegates from 31 countries and included 5 international organizations closely connected to passenger ship safety and the COSPAS and SARSAT programme.

In the U.K Mr. Botes met with the MRCC in Falmouth, who is the contact between S.A and the U.K regards SAR.
He also took the opportunity to visit the Maritime and Coastguard Agency head office in Southampton and the Coastguard Training Centre in Highcliffe, Christchurch to discuss various issues, including Search and Rescue, Training and Marine related issues such as oil pollution prevention and surveying.