Challenges developing countries face adopting international maritime search rescue conventions

¶ … Developing Countries Adopting (sar)

Challenges Facing Developing Countries Adopting International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR)

The growth observed in developing nations has led to maritime traffic in the entire region. In addition, the increase in maritime activities has led to more threats of emergencies at the seas. For the region to enhance security and safety, developing countries had to adopt a legal and binding agreement on working together in maritime search rescue (SAR). The nations have been experiencing manifold challenges associated with the adoption of this international convention agreement. The first is the sheer regional size, harsh environmental conditions, inadequate support infrastructures, and lack of capabilities. This study analyzes the challenges facing developing countries adopting international convention maritime search rescue (SAR) (Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2007).

Introduction

The international convention maritime search rescue (SAR) enacted in 1979 encompasses an internal rescue and search plan. The aim of this plan was to rescue distressed persons in seas, no matter the location. This was to be made possible through the formation of collaborations between all neighboring SAR communities. In 1998, the agreement was modified to clarify the responsibilities of various nations. After the introduction of the 1979 international convention, maritime search rescue (SAR), the Committee of Maritime Safety founded by the Global Maritime Organization divided the oceans in developing nations into rescue and search areas. This has been commonly referred to as the Rescue and Search Regions. From this requirement, any developing country was required to offer services of coordination and management. This was aimed at fostering the provisions of the international convention maritime search rescue (SAR) (Nordquist & University of Virginia, 2005).

I. The region is vulnerable to possible threats of sea line communications

II. The privileges and interests of landlocked countries in the industry of maritime and the III. The need for urgent regional cooperation such as protecting maritime resources, inability to respond to urgent contingencies of pollution and combating illegal arms, drugs and human trafficking

Research has provided repeated results indicating that all the developing countries are facing similar challenges. These countries are sparsely populated in their respective territories. This has often opened doors to insufficient infrastructures, and lack of assets to handle certain emergency scenarios. This has paved way to gaps in capabilities, which are expected to arise. As the region's main population is centered in one area, the region lacks fundamental supportive infrastructures and capabilities to implement the responsibilities assigned by the International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR). This includes necessary medical facilities, supplies, airbases, and roads (Wu & Zou, 2009).

In addition, the region has an infrastructure that is not meant for the International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR) operations. Recently, countries in the region acquired transport aircrafts that can only use restricted number of airfields. This is because, currently, most of them lack or are short of sufficient landing surface such as that in large aircrafts. Experts have shown that developing countries only have limited infrastructures to address all environmental emergencies and disaster like oil spills. Lack of volunteers to bolster government efforts on the same worsens the situation (Gammeltoft-Hansen, 2011).

Currently, any efforts directed at mounting temporary operations appear to be a great challenge for the third world nations. Another scenario involves incidents of cruise ship. The region has been experiencing a significant increase in cruise ship voyages. There has been an increase in the number of cruise ships. This has raised the question of whether the current structure of SAR in developing nations could cope swiftly and effectively with this scenario that involves an enormous amount of casualties. For instance, third world countries lack substantial ports. Therefore, the governments of these nations have pledged to make strategic investments in marine and air infrastructures. This is expected to enable these countries to execute their responsibilities in accord to the provisions of rescue and search requirement (United Nations, 2006).

It would be necessary to make huge investments in upgrading the current regional infrastructure. Additionally, the region's ability to supply forces across the neighboring countries is expected to lead to costly expenses. Experts have projected that the region could spend an annual operating cost of approximately $10 billion. It is yet to be confirmed whether these investments qualify to be financially attainable. Some of the most useful SAR facilities in developing nations are situated thousands of miles away the seas and oceans. In addition, the most SAR capabilities such as aircrafts, ships, and helicopters are not strategically stationed. This has become a major handicap for SAR agencies in developing countries to react effectively and swiftly to emergencies. Most air capabilities are not strategically located. They include transport aircrafts, helicopters, and Rescue Squads, which are likely to require transit hours in favorable climatic conditions to counter emergencies (International Maritime Organization, 2006).

As developing nations comprise of small populations that support International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR) operations infrastructures, there is a short supply of expertise and capabilities operating the regional stations. Their military forces do not have any capabilities hence they look upon foreign assets. It is clear that these nations are situated at an exit and entrance to oceans and seas. The countries have deep-water ports that have the possibility of transforming into transshipping hubs. So far, this has led to the biggest risk of sinking cruise ships. From early 2000, there has been a significant increase in the number of passenger cruise ships visiting the region and its surrounding hub of waters (Wu & Zou, 2009).

Conclusion

Major challenges of the developing nations are the vast size of the region of responsibility and the inadequate capabilities. Recently, the region adopted a concept of procuring future capabilities necessary to execute their responsibilities in the specified areas. However, in the mean time, these plans have been postponed due to a recent world economic recession. Therefore, the developing nations have argued that the biggest challenge would be the budget constraints concerning the International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR) operations responsibilities and activities. According to the major incidents within the responsibilities of the developing world, International Convention Maritime Search Rescue (SAR) operations require that region must cooperate with all the regional states. Therefore, the region has also institutionalized agreements on cooperation amongst the member countries. According to this requirement, developing countries were required to coordinate and manage the provisions of the international convention and (SAR) services (Cooper, 2005).