Management Committee

The purpose of the Management Committee shall be to advise the Executive Committee on any matter that may have policy and financial implications. The goals and objectives of the Management Committee shall be:

  • To assess emerging technologies and other environmental changes and advise the Executive Committee accordingly.
  • To advise the Executive Committee on specialist issues, appropriateness and necessity for developed SAR plans, legislation, policies, rules, treaties or agreements.
  • To ensure a seamless administration of the SAR Programme.
  • To ensure that the limited search and rescue resources are used in the most economic, efficient and effective way.
  • To ensure that SAR operations are conducted in accordance with laid down standards and recommended practices as reflected in the SASAR Manual and as considered the norm in terms of International Conventions.
  • To take decisions on operational and administrative issues that may not impact negatively on search and rescue policy, and does not necessarily need the approval of the Executive Committee.

The Management Committee shall be composed of the following:

  • Head of SASAR;
  • Head of SASAR Secretariat;
  • Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre Chief;
  • Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre Chief; and
  • The Secretariat.

The Head of Secretariat shall preside over all meetings of the Management Committee. The Chairperson must designate a person to act as Chairperson if he or she is unable to act as Chairperson. The Management Committee shall meet at least twice a year at the time and place determined by the members.

The Secretariat must give notice to Members at least a week prior to the date of the Management Committee meeting and provide all documents relating to the business of the meeting at the same time. The Chairperson may at any time, with reasonable notification, call a special meeting of the committee to be held at the time and place determined by the Chairperson.

A majority of the members present forms a quorum at any meeting of the committee and a decision agreed to by the majority of members present at a duly constituted meeting shall be the decision of the committee. The mode of voting during the process of the Management Committee shall be by show of hands, with each member entitled to one vote.

In the event of an equality of votes on any matter, the Chairperson shall have a casting vote in addition to a deliberative vote. Observers may attend the Management Committee meeting by invitation but will not have any voting rights and will only be allowed to speak with due permission of the Chairperson.