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(3) They are required to undertake SAR duties in areas of the South
China Sea out to 400 nm offshore for periods of up to 6 days. (Annex B
indicates the extent of the SAR area).
Operating Patterns
(1) Periods of Tension/Confrontation. During such periods, four
craft are required to be at immediate notice.
(2) Peacetime. Peacetime operations require one
craft to be on patrol or at immediate notice and a second craft at four
hours notice at all times.
(3) Offshore Deployments.
The Hong Kong Squadron is currently required
to deploy overseas to assist in training the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment.
It is also required to operate off shore for periods of several days for
SAR operations or to provide support for the RHKP when their craft are
weather limited.
NOTE The craft upkeep periods specified in Part J will allow a normal craft
Availability of 74%. Taking into account crew leave and rest/recreation periods,
this will be sufficient to meet the requirement in sub paragraph (2) above,
providing the 5 vessels are programmed so that not more than one is in BMP/DED/
Refit at any one time. The Upkeep Periods allowed in Part J permit such planning
An enhanced 'Maximum Availability' figure of 81% can be achieved to meet the
requirement in paragraph (1) above assuming that a craft in LSP can be brought
forward within the "warning time". To facilitate this requirement, the Notice for
Sea during LSP's has been limited to 8 hours (Part J, paragraph 4 refers). During
an extended period of Tensior/Controntation, it will be necessary to make all five
craft available as soon as possible so that some craft LSP's and crew rest/ recreation
can be restored.
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