The Search and Rescue Unit of the Ghana Maritime Authority is responsible for the search and rescue of distressed persons in the maritime areas and inland waterways of Ghana. The unit was established at the formation of the Authority.
In June 2010, Ghana satisfied all the criteria for establishing the Tema Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (Tema MRSC) after an IMO audit. The Sub-Centre operated under the Monrovia Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Monrovia MRCC) until 2019.
In 2019, the Tema MRSC was upgraded to a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) with full responsibility for search and rescue operations within Ghana’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR). The SRR is bordered by the following coordinates:
- Latitude 05° 01.373′ N, Longitude 002° 47.772′ W
- Latitude 01° 00.000′ N, Longitude 002° 47.772′ W
- Latitude 01° 00.000′ N, Longitude 000° 35.000′ E
- Latitude 06° 03.050′ N, Longitude 001° 06.120′ E
Tema MRCC maintains a continuous 24/7 watch on VHF Channel 16 and DSC Channel 70 for distress, urgency, and security messages.
The Tema MRCC coordinates its activities with the following stakeholder organisations:
- Ghana Air Force
- Ghana Navy
- Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
- Ghana Immigration Service
- Ghana Health Service
- Ghana Ambulance Service
- Ghana National Fire Service
- Ghana Meteorological Agency
- National Disaster Management Organisation
- Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority
The unit has successfully carried out several rescue operations, including medical evacuations (Medevac), rescues from sinking vessels, and responses to other dangers at sea. The unit is in the process of upgrading its radio equipment to IMO and ICAO standards to improve its monitoring of safety-of-life-at-sea communications.