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That is the promise of IAMSAR Volume 4. Whether you are the captain of a supertanker or the coxswain of a 20-foot rigid inflatable boat, ensure that this critical guide is on your bridge, in your pocket, or loaded onto your tablet. Because in search and rescue, hope is not a plan—but IAMSAR Volume 4 is.
Do not just buy it—drill with it. The best SAR commanders run a "Tabletop Exercise" every month. Lay out a mock scenario (e.g., "Fire on a passenger ferry 12 miles offshore"), hand a junior officer the IAMSAR Volume 4 guide, and time how long it takes them to issue the first OSC broadcast. iamsar volume 4
. This is the most famous volume, carried on ships and aircraft. It tells the story of the "On-Scene Coordinator" (OSC)—the captain or pilot who arrives first and must take charge, launch lifeboats, and communicate with the distressed craft. Why you might see "Volume 4" references: That is the promise of IAMSAR Volume 4
To address these challenges, the ICAO and IMO, in collaboration with other stakeholders, continue to update and improve the IAMSAR Manual, including Volume 4. Future developments are likely to focus on: Do not just buy it—drill with it