Application of Bayesian network to estimate merchant ship usability for SAR action

In Search and Rescue (SAR) operations on sea are use special ships with trained crew. In situation when the rescue ship is not available SAR action coordinator may use merchant ships that are in the accident area to help ship in danger. Merchant ship has not special equipment to search survivors and according to small number of crew, cargo on board and stability situation may be not suitable for SAR operation. Some weather conditions may be danger for this ship and there may be two ships in danger instead of one. The action coordinator is responsible to choose good vessel. The paper will present elements that should be taken into consideration. Article will show usage of Bayesian network to estimate which ship is better for SAR action This tool will help coordinator to make good decision. Paper specified elements of merchant ship usability for SAR action based on safety during action with algorithm of MSC decision according use of merchant ship. The paper also show example of calculations of hypothetic rescue action on the Mediterranean Sea using GeNIe program, which include probability of safety search patternfor ship, weather condition and other variables. Results show Mir Emad to be the least useful ship. The best result has tanker Excel, but during calculation didn't take into consideration type of the ship.