National Search and Rescue Coordination - Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority

Currently, the PNG search and Rescue system is undertaken under the following practise:

Air search and rescue – is undertaken by the PNG Air Services Limited in collaboration with the Police, PNGDF and the air industry depending on the size and nature of the incident.

Defence search and rescue is undertaken by the PNGDF and may seek assistance from the ARCC or the MRCC.

Maritime Search and Rescue is undertaken by MRCC and depending on the nature of the incident MRCC seeks the assistance of JRCC Australia under an MOU arrangement for assistance in the prosecution of sar incidents with capability not available to PNG. The network that MRCC has is far and wide both nationally and internationally.

The MRCC currently also coordinates search and rescue incidents in collaboration and consultation with the Provincial disaster Officers of the Coastal Provinces. This is in particular for search for small crafts widely used by the coastal and inland water ways for transportation.

For Maritime Emergencies and Search & Rescue contact PNGMRCC on PNGMRCC@nmsa.gov.pg or Toll Free number (+675) 735 170 17