Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Southern Norway

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Southern Norway or JRCC SN (

Organized search and rescue operations in Norway were first established with the foundation of the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue in 1891, a private, non-profit society. The service was based on solidarity and volunteering. As more public and private resources were made available for search and rescue missions, problems with coordination became evident. Thus the government appointed a commission in the mid-1950s to look into the need for a coordinating body. It made its recommendations in 1959, which were implemented in 1970. This resulted in the creation of two JRCCs, a rescue sub-center at each police district and the establishment of the 330 Squadron of Westland Sea King helicopters in 1973.[1]

Organization

"Search and rescue service" is a judicially defined term in Norway, which specifically applies to an immediate response to saving people from death and injury. It does not involve rescue of property, protection of the environment or prevention of accidents.

The sub-centers will always report any search and rescue alarm to JRCC SN, but will by default take action themselves unless JRCC SN chooses to take command itself. Actions are taken based on pre-defined plans.[8] JRCC SN is prepared to handle situations related to land, sea and air, operations tied to offshore constructions and missions requiring international cooperation. This model is chosen for being cost-efficient and resource-efficient, and is unique in the world.^[7] The two Norwegian JRCCs are redundant and both can take over the other centers operations if necessary. This most commonly takes place when one center is fully occupied with a major incident and the other center takes over responsibility for the entire country.^[11] In case of war the JRCC SN will cease to operate and the employees and resources will be transferred to NATO's Joint Warfare Centre, with the Norwegian Armed Forces taking over available resources.^[12]

Incidents are handled at one of three levels: on-scene coordination, at a rescue sub-center or at a JRCC. Most land-based SAR missions are coordinated at the second level by the local police district. However, the JRCC is kept informed and may offer advice and allocate resources without coordinating the mission. The JRCCs take over control in situation at sea, by aircraft and at offshore installations, as well as for instances which require international cooperation and prolonged operations. The JRCC may appoint an on-scene coordinator for a search, typically a navy or coast guard vessel. For major accidents, hotlines for next of kin are set up, and crisis psychology and clergy is available to these and search participants.^[13] Professional public relations experts are used to handle the media.^[11]

Resources

Available resources for search and rescue missions are a pooling of government, commercial and volunteer agencies. Government agencies cover their costs related to SAR missions through their ordinary operational budgets.^[7] Volunteer organizations are reimbursed their direct costs.^[14] Civilian governmental organizations which JRCC SN can call upon are the Norwegian Police Service, ambulances, Norwegian Civil Defence, the Norwegian Air Ambulance, municipal fire departments and the fire and rescue services at airports.^[15] The Coastal Administration, the Climate and Pollution Agency and the Directorate of Fisheries operate a fleet of vessels along the coast. Advice can be called from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute.^[16]