Proposal to transfer maritime and aeronautical search and rescue to the Swedish Coast Guard

The inquiry is entitled “A New Organisational Home to Strengthen Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue in Sweden”. The title therefore makes the inquiry’s recommendation clear from the outset.

— We will study the report with great interest to understand the advantages and disadvantages that a new responsible authority could bring for rescue preparedness and for Sweden, says Erik Eklund, Director-General of the Swedish Maritime Administration.

In addition to proposing that the operational aspects of maritime and aeronautical search and rescue be transferred to the Swedish Coast Guard, the inquiry recommends that the Swedish Civil Defence Agency be given responsibility for supervision, coordination and certain training activities.

— My view is that maritime and aeronautical search and rescue should be organised in a way that delivers the greatest benefit to Sweden. I would also like to emphasise that these operations already function well under the responsibility of the Swedish Maritime Administration, says Erik Eklund.

The inquiry also concludes, as the Swedish Maritime Administration has previously pointed out, that helicopter resources could be utilised more extensively, both within central government and on behalf of other organisations.

— We already cooperate with several regions on particularly urgent medical transports, and we always assist municipal rescue services during rescue operations whenever possible. We could expand this type of cooperation, provided it does not compromise our primary mission, says Mattias Hyllert, Director of Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue at the Swedish Maritime Administration.

The inquiry’s proposals will now be circulated to relevant stakeholders for consultation, giving them an opportunity to submit their views. The Government will then analyse the proposals alongside the consultation responses before deciding how to proceed. In the meantime, operations will continue as normal at the Swedish Maritime Administration, without any changes.

Maritime and aeronautical search and rescue operations are coordinated from the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Gothenburg, with five helicopter bases across Sweden, located in Gothenburg, Kristianstad, Visby, Norrtälje and Umeå. Management functions are primarily based in Gothenburg and Norrköping, while training activities are conducted on Arkö.