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The Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) is responsible authority for Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Services in Sweden. accordance with the national legislation Swedish Civil Protection Ordinance (SFS2003:789). According to the same ordinance , SMA is since 1 January 2009 also responsible for the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Services. Performance with regard to the Swedish Civil Protection Act (2003:778) and Ordinance (2003:789) for Maritime and Aeronautical SAR Services are under supervision by the Swedish Transport Agency. 

Maritime Search and Rescue services also regulated by the International Conventions for Maritime Search and Rescue (1979) and Safety of Life at Sea (1974), both ratified by Sweden.

Aeronautical Search and Rescue Services equivalent aviation organization – International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Annex 12. 

The organization and operational procedures of the Swedish Search and Rescue service follows the recommendations of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) which is developed and published in co-operation between the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Maritime Search and Rescue shall ensure that assistance is rendered to any person in distress at sea and is defined as:

performance of distress monitoring, communication, co-ordination and search and rescue functions, including provision of medical advice, initial medical assistance, or medical evacuation, through the use of public and private resources including co-operating aircraft, vessels and other craft and installations;

Search and Rescue Organization is normally described in three different levels of co-ordination:

  • SAR Co-ordination (Management)
  • Mission Co-Ordination (Operations)
  • On Scene Co-ordination (Mobile Facilities)

including the overall administrative management, operational co-ordination and recourses for on scene operation.

Updated: 2011-07-01