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]
JRCC SN is organized as government agency subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, and is based in Sola.[2] Its search and rescue region of responsibility, defined by the International Maritime Organization and International Civil Aviation Organization, covers Southern Norway—specified as following the 65th parallel north in the Norwegian Sea and the border between Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland on land. To the north lies the responsibility of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre of Northern Norway, based in Bodø.[2] The JRCC SN's geographic borders towards neighboring countries roughly corresponds to that of Norway's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and flight information region. It reaches as far south as the 57th parallel north and as far west as the prime meridian. It has international borders to the United Kingdom, Denmark and Sweden and covers parts of the Norwegian Sea, the North Sea and Skagerrak.[3] The borders do not necessarily follow the EEZ, so the British oil field Brent falls within Norwegian responsibility and the Norwegian Ekofisk falls within British.[4] There are twenty-one rescue sub-center subordinate JCRR SN—one in each police district.[2]
The agency is subordinate to the Chief of Police of Rogaland Police District and led by a manager and two rescue inspectors, one for operations and one for planning, development and training. The facility has 14 to 16 rescue controllers, of which at least two are at any time on duty, and two to three administrative employees. The chief of police is contacted in case of major incidents, and he can choose to call in a rescue leadership group consisting of representatives from the Royal Norwegian Navy, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Avinor's air traffic control, Stavanger Health Trust and Telenor Maritime Radio. Rescue controllers are recruited from a range of services, including the navy, air force, air traffic control, police, merchant marine and civil aviation.[5] The agency had 23 employees in 2013.[6]
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]
