TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 17-709

________________________________________________________________________

MARITIME MATTERS

Search and Rescue

Agreement Between the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and PORTUGAL

Signed at Oeiras January 19, 2017
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
 PORTUGAL

 Maritime Matters: Search and Rescue

 Agreement signed at Oeiras

 January 19, 2017;

 Entered into force July 9, 2017.

 

 
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AGREEMENT 


BETWEEN 


THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


AND 


THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC 


ON 


AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE 


The United States of America and the Portuguese Republic, 

Hereinafter designated individually as a "Party" and: collectively as the 

"Parties", 

Recognizing the importance of strengthening the longstanding and 

traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between their two countries, 

Recognizing the great importance of cooperation between the Parties 

in conducting aeronautical and maritime search and rescue ("SAR") 

operations, 

. Willing to establish mutual assistance in aeronautical and maritime 

search and rescue operations,. in accordance with the Convention on 

International Civil Aviation, signed in Chicago on December 7, 1944, as 

amended (the "Chicago Convention"), and the International Convention on 

Maritime Search and Rescue, signed in Hamburg on April 27, 1979, as 

amended (the "SAR Convention"), 

Noting the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue 

Manual, hereinafter referred to as the "IAMSAR Manual°, 

Hereby agree as follows: 
Article 1 


Definitions 


1 . For the purpose of this Agreement the following definitions shall 

apply: 

a. 	 "Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)" - a unit responsible for 

promoting efficient organization of search aJ1ld rescue services 

and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue 

operations within a search and rescue region;\ 

b. 	 "Search and Rescue Region (SRA)" - an, area with defined 

dimensions associated with a Rescue Coordination Center 

within which search and rescue services are provided; 

c. 	 "Territory" - the land areas, internal waters,: territorial sea, and 

the airspace above those areas, but in no case shall either 

Party's territorial sea exceed the twelve-nautical-mile breadth 

allowed under international law as reflected in the United 

Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

2. The definitions in paragraphs 1 (a) and 1 (b) of this article are subject 

to any changes in the identical terms and definitions contained in Chapter 1 of 

the Annex to the SAR Convention and in Chapter 1 of Annex 12 to the 

Chicago Convention. 

3. Any other terms and definitions defined in Chapter 1 of the Annex to 

the SAR Convention and in Chapter 1 of Annex 12 to the Chicago 

Convention, and used but not defined in this Agreement, ~hall be applied as 

defined in the aforementioned Conventions. 

Article 2 


Objective 


The objective of this Agreement is to strengthen cooperation in the field 

of maritime and aeronautical SAR and to enhance effectiveness in assisting 

persons In distress. 
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Article 3 


Search and Rescue Regions 


1. The aeronauucal SAR regions of the Parties shall be delimited 

geographically by a continuous line connecting the following coordinates: 

45° OO'N 40° OOW; and 22° 18'N 40° OOW 

2. The maritime SAR regions of the Parties shall be delimited 

geographically by a continuous line connecting the following coordinates: 

45° OO'N 40° OOW; and 18° OO'N 40° oow 

3. The coordinates in this article use the World Geodetic System 1984 

("WGS 84") and are connected by geodetic lines. 

4. Each Party accepts primary responsibility for ttie coordination of 

SAR operations in its SAR. 

5. The delimitation of SAR regions is not related to and shall not 

prejudice the delimitation of any boundary between the Parties. 

Article 4 

Services Responsible for Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue 

1 . Each Party's agencies responsible for aeronautical and maritime 

SAR (hereinafter "SAR agencies") are specified below. 

2. For the United States of America, the United States Coast Guard is 

responsible for .coordinating aeronautical and maritime SA;R operations, and 

for the Portuguese Republic, the Portuguese Air Force is responsible for 

coordinating aeronautical SAR operations and the Portuguese Navy is 

responsible for coordinating maritime SAR operations. 

3. Each Party shall promptly inform the other Party of any changes in 

its SAR agencies. 
Article 5 


Rescue Coordination Centers 


1. 	 The RCCs for each Party are as follows: 

a. 	 For the United States of America: Joint RCC Boston (SRR 

Boston) and Joint RCC Norfolk (SRR Norfolk); 

b. 	 For the Portuguese Republic: Aeronautical: ACC Lajes, and 

Maritime RCC Delgada (SAR St" Maria). 

2. Either Party may unilaterally update the inforrnatipn contained in the 

paragraph above, such information becoming effective on ithe date on which 

the other Party receives written notification of the update. 

Article 6 


Conduct of Search and Rescue Operations 


1. The Parties shall act in conformity with the provisions of the SAA 

Convention and the Chicago Convention. 

2. The IAMSAA Manual provides additional guidelines for use in 

implementing activities under this Agreement. 

Article 7 


Cooperation between Rescue Coordination Centers 


1. A request from either Party's RCC to assist persons in distress shall 

be sent to the RCC of the other Party. 

2. Receipt of such requests shall be confirmed without delay by the 

receiving RCC. 

3. The receiving RCC shall advise the requesting RCC as soon as 

possible as to whether such assistance can be provided. The receiving RCC 

shall advise the requesting RCC of the number, type(s), and call signs(s) of 

the rescue units assigned, and of the communications facilities it has at its 

disposal. 
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4. Upon receipt of the information concerning the: requested rescue 

units specified in paragraph 3 of this article, the requesting RCC shall 

coordinate with the other Party on issues related to the provision of 

authorization to enter its territory. 

5. The authorization for entry referred to in paragraph 4 of this article 

sha~I include any special conditions for entry, for example, the ports and 

landing sites to be used and information on customs and immigration 

formalities, and it shall be transmitted to the RCC of the other Party as soon 

as possible. 

Articles 


Coordination and Communication 


1. SAR operations in the SAR region of a Party shall be coordinated 

by the RCC responsible for that SAR region. 

2. In order to ensure the effectiveness of a SAR operation, the RCCs 

involved in the coordination of the SAR operation may agree on a different 

method of coordination for that operation. 

3. During a joint SAR operation, the RCC of the Party in whose SAR 

region such operation is being conducted shall determine, in coordination with 

the ACC or RCCs of the other Party, the method of communication with the 

rescue units. 

4. Nothing in this Agreement shall be interpreted as altering the 

obligations of aircraft to communicate directly with air traffic control, where 

required by applicable law or regulation. 

Article 9 


Cooperation Between SAR Agencies 


1. The Parties shall enhance cooperation between their SAR 

agencies. Such cooperation may include, inter alia, joint SAR exercises, 

regular checks of communication channels, reciprocal visits by SAR experts, 

and the exchange of information. 
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2. The Parties intend to exchange information to improve the 

effectiveness of SAR operations. This information may Include, but is not 

limited to: 

a. 	communication details; 

b. 	 information about SAR facilities; 

c. 	 descriptions of available airfields; 

d. 	 knowledge of fuelling and medical facilities; and 

e. 	 information useful for training SAR personnel. 

3. 	 The Parties may promote SAR cooperation by, inter alia: 

a. 	communicating national positions on SAR issues of mutual 

interest within the scope of this Agreement; and 

b. 	 conducting regular communications checks and exercises, 

including the use of alternative means of communications for 

handling communication overloads during major SAR 

operations. 

Article 10 

Funding 

1. Each Party shall bear its own costs arising from its participation in 

SAR operations or in any other activities within the scope of this Agreement, 

except as may be agreed otherwise by the Parties in writing in advance. 

2. Cooperation under this Agreement shall be subject to the 

availability of resources at the disposal of the Parties, including personnel, 

SAR facilities, and financial resources. 

Article 11 


Amendments 


1. This Agreement may be amended by written agreement of the 

Parties. 
2. An amendment shall enter into force in the same manner specified 

for entry into force of the Agreement in Article 15. 

Article 12 


Application 


1. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the rights or 

obligations of either Party deriving from other agreements to which they are 

both parties, including but not limited to the SAR Convention and the Chicago 

Convention, and shall not affect the rights and. obligations of either Party 

under customary international law as .reflected in the 1982 United Nations 

Convention on the Law of the Sea. 

2. Nothing in this Agreement shall affect the rights or obligations of 

either Party under customary international law related tO the provision of 

assistance to persons in distress. 

Article 13 


Dispute Resolution 


Disputes concerning the application or interpretation' of this Agreement 

shall be resolved through consultations between the Parties. 

Article 14 


Duration and Termination 


1 . The present agreement shall remain in force for an indefinite period 

of time. 

2. Either Party may, at any time, terminate the present agreement 

upon six months' advance notification, in writing through diptomatic channels. 
Article 15 


Entry into Force 


This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after receipt of the 

later of the notifications, in writing through diplomatic channels, indicating that 

each Party has completed its internal procedures necessary for entry into 

force of the Agreement. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized by their 

respective Governments, have signed this Agreement. 

Done at Oeiras on this 19th day of January, 2017, in the English and 

Portuguese languages, both texts being equally authentic. 

United States of America: For the Portuguese Republic:. 

( 

Jose Alberto Azeredo Lopes 

Minister of National Defense 
) ··:· 
 ...

ACOR DO 


ENTRE 


OS ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA 


E 

A REPUBLICA PORTUGUESA 


SOB RE 


BUSCA E SALVAMENTO MARrTIMO E AEREO 


Os Estados Unidos da America e a Republica Portuguesa, 

Doravante designados individualmente como "Parte" e coletivamente 

como "Partes", 

Reconhecendo a importancia do reforco da longa tradicao de relacoos 

de amizade e cooperagao entre os dais paises, 

Reconhecendo a enorme importancia da cooperac;;:ao entre as Partes 

na canducao das operac0es de busca e salvamento marftimo e aereo (SAR), 

Desejando estabelecer a assistencia mutua em operavoes de busca e 

salvamento maritimo e aereo, de acordo com a Convencao sobre Aviacao 

Civil Internacional, a~sinada em Chicago, a 7 de dezembro de 1944, e todas 

as suas alterac;;:6es ("Convenc;;:ao de Chicago"), ea Convenyao Internacional 

sobre Busca e Salvamento Maritimo, assinada em Hamburgo, a 27 de· abril 

de 1979, e todas as suas alterac;;:oes ("Convenc;;:ao SAR"), 

Tendo presente o Manual sobre Busca e Salvamento Marftimo e Aereo 

Internacional, doravante referido por "Manual IAMSAR", 

Acordam no seguinte: 
Artigo 1:~ 

Defini~s 

1. Para efeitos do presente Acorda aplicam-se as seguintes defini9oes: 

a. "Centro de Coordena~io de Salvamento (RCC)" · ­ a unidade 

responsavel pela promogao de uma organizacao eficiente dos 

services de busca e salvamento e pela coordenacao da conducao 

das operacoes de busca e salvamento dentro de uma regiao de 

busca e salvamento; 

b. "Regiao de Busca e Salvamento (SRR)" ,.. uma area com 

dimensoes definidas, associada a um Centro de Coordenacao de 

Salvamento no interior do qual sao prestados os services de busca 

e salvamento; 

c. "Territ6rio" - as areas terrestres, as aguas interiores, o mar 

territorial e o espaco aereo acima deles, em .nenhum caso 

excedendo o mar territorial de cada Parte a distancia de 12 milhas 

nauticas autorizada pelo direito Internacional coma previsto na 

Convencao das Nacoes Unidas sabre o Direito do Mar. 

2. As defini96es constantes nas alfneas a) e b) do n.2 anterior estao sujeitas 

a quaisquer alteracoes relativas aos mesmos termos e oofinicoes previstos 

no Capftulo 1 do Anexo a Convencao SAR e no Capftulo 1 do Anexo 12 a 

Convencao de Chicago. 

3. Sao aplicaveis quaisquer outros termos e definicoes constantes no 

Capitulo 1 do Anexo a Convem;ao SAR e no Capftulo 1 do Anexo 12 a 

Convencao de Chicago desde que referidos, mas nao defitlidos, no presente 

Acorda. 

Artlgo 2.2 

Objeto 

O presente Acorda tern por objeto fortalecer a cooperacao no domf nio do 

SAR marftimo e aereo e reforcar a eficacia da assistencia a pessoas em 

perigo. 
Artigo 3.2 


Regi6es de Buses e Salvamento 


1. As regi6es SAR aereas das Partes sao geograflcamente delimitadas por 

uma linha continua ligando as seguintes coordenadas: 

45° OO'N 40° OOW; e 22°18°N 40° OO'W. 

2. As regioes SAR marltimas das Partes sao geograficamente delimitadas 

por uma linha continua ligando as seguintes coordenadas: 

45° OO'N 40° OO'W; e 18° OO'N 40° OO'W. 

3. As coordenadas neste artigo usam o Sistema Geodesico Mundial 1984 

("WGS 84") e sao ligadas por linhas geodesicas. 

4. Cada Parte aceita a responsabilidade primaria pela coordenacao das 

operacoes SAR na sua SRA. 

5. A delimitacao de regi5es SAR nao se encontra relacionada nem afeta a 

delimita~o de qualquer fronteira entre as Partes. 

Artigo 4.2 


Servi~os responsiiveis pela Busca e Salvamento Marltimo e Aereo 


1. Sao responsaveis pelo SAR maritime e aereo, as seguintes agencias, 

doravante designadas por "agencias SAR". 

2. Para a Republica Portuguesa, a Forca Aerea Portuguesa e responsavel 

pela coordenacao das operai;oes SAR aereas e a Marinha Portuguesa e 

responsavel pela coordenacao das operac;oes SAR mantimas, e para as 

Estados Unidos da America, a Guarda Costeira dos Estados Unidos e 

responsavel pela coordenac;ao das operacoes SAR maritimas e aereas. 

3. Cada Parte deve informar a outra, de imediato, sobre qualquer alteracao 

de agencias SAR. 
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Artigo 5.2 

Centros de Coordena9ao de Salvamento 

1. 	 Os RCC de cada Parte sao os seguintes: 

a. 	 Para a Republica Portuguesa: RCC Aereo Lajes e RCC Marftimo 

Delgada (SRA S!A Maria); 

b. 	 Para os Estados Unidos da America: RCC Conjunto Boston (SAR 

Boston) e RCC Conjunto Norfolk (SAR Norfolk). 

2. Cada Parte pode atualizar unilateralmente a informac;ao contida no 

numero anterior, informayao essa que produz efeitos na data da receyao, 

pela outra Parte, da notificacao escrita da alteracao. 

Artigo 6.2 


Condu~o de Opera~6es de Busca e Salvamento 


1. As Partes agem em conformidade com as disposicoes da Convern;;ao 

SAR e da Convencao de Chicago. 

2. 0 Manual IAMSAR fornece orientacoes adicionais para serem utilizadas 

na implementacao de atividades no ambito do presente Acordo. 

Artlgo 7.2 


Coopera980 entre Centros de Coordena980 de Salvamento 


1. 0 pedido de um RCC de qualquer uma das Partes para assistencia a 

pessoas em perigo deve· ser enviado a um RCC da outra Parte. 

2. O RCC solicitado deve confirmar a recec;ao do pedido, com a maior 

brevidade possfvel. 

3. O RCC solicitado deve informar o RCC solicitante, tao rapido quanto 

possivel, se aquela assistencia pode ser prestada, ~ssim como o numero, 

tipo(s) e indicativo{s) de chamada das unidades de salvamento empenhadas 

e dos equipamentos de comunlcai;:oes que tern asua disposiyao. 
4. Ap6s recec;;:ao da informacao sobre as unidades de salvamento referidas 

no numero anterior, o RCC sollcitante deve coordenar com a outra Parte os 

aspetos relacionados com a concessao de autorizac;ao para entrar no seu 

territ6rio. 

5. A autorizacao de entrada referida no numero anterior deve lncluir 

qurusquer condil;oes especiais de entrada, por exemplo em portos e locais de 

aterragem a serem usados e informac;ao sobre formalidades aduaneiras ou 

ligadas a imigracao, a transmitir ao RCC da outra Parte 'tao rapido quanto 

posslvel. 

Artigo8.2 


Coordena~io e comunica~ao 

1 . Uma operac;:ao SAR na regiao SAR de uma Parte deve ser coordenada 

pelo RCC responsavel por essa regiao SAR. 

2. No sentido de garantir a eficacia de uma operac;;:ao SAR, o RCC envolvido 

na coordenac;;:ao da operac;ao SAR pode concordar num metodo diferente de 

coordenacao para essa operac;ao. 

3. Durante uma operac;ao· SAR conjunta, o RCC responsavel da Parte em 

cuja regiao SAR esta a ser conduzida a operac;ao, deve determinar, em 

coordenac;:ao com o(s) RCC da outra Parte, qual o metodo de comunicac;ao 

com as unidades de salvamento . . ' 

4. Nada no presente Acorda pode ser interpretado como alterando as 

obrigac;;:6es das aeronaves comunicarem diretamente com o controlo de 

trafego aereo quando exigido pelas leis ou regulamentos aplicaveis. 

Artigo 9.2 


Coopera~ao entre agencias SAR 


1. As Partes devem reforc;ar a cooperaQao entre as su~s agencias SAR, 

mediante, inter alia, exercicios SAR conjuntos, verifica~ao regular dos canals 

de comunlca~ao, visitas reciprocas de peritos SAR e troca de informacao. 
2. As Partes pretendem trocar informagao para aumentar a eficaeia das 

operac;oes SAR. Esta informacao pode incluir, mas nao esta limitada a: 

a. 	Sistema de comunicac;oes; 

b. 	 lnformacao sobre instalacoes SAR; 

c. 	 Descricao de aer6dromos disponlveis; 

d. 	 Conhecimento de instalacoes de abastecimento de combustive is e 

medicas; e 

e. 	 lnformacao util para o treino do pessoal SAR. 

3. 	 As Partes podem promover a cooperacao SAR, inter alia, atraves da: 

a. 	 Comunicacao das posicoos nacionais sabre aspetos SAR que 

sejam de interesse mutuo no ambito do present~ Acorda; e 

b. 	 Condugao regular de verificac;:oes e exercfcios de comunicac;:5es, 

incluindo o uso alternativo de meios de comunicacao para gerir 

situac;:oes de sobrecarga durante opera<;oes SAR de elevada 

dimensao. 

Artiga 10.9 


Financiamento 


1 . Cada Parte suporta os custos decorrentes da sua participacao em 

operac6es SAR ou em quaisquer outras atividades no ambito do presente 

Acorda, exceto no caso das Partes acordarem, previamente e por escrito, de 

outra forma. 

2. A cooperac;:ao no ambito do presente Acorda estara dependente da 

existencia de re.cursos a disposic;:ao das Partes, incluindo pessoal, 

instalac;:oes SAR e recurses flnanceiros. 

Artigo 11.9 


Revisao 


1. O presente Acorda pode ser objeto de revisao por acordo escrito entre as 

Partes. 
2. As emendas entram em vigor nos termos previstos no artigo 15.2 do 

presente Acordo. 

Artigo 12.2 

Aplica~o 

1. AS disposic;oes do presente Acorda nao prejudicam OS direitos OU 

obrigac;oes de ca~ uma das Partes que resultem de outros acordos nos 

quais ambos sejam partes, incluindo, mas nao limitado, a Convenc;ao SAR e 

a Convenc;ao de Chicago, e nao afetam os direitos e obrigac;oes de cada uma 

das Partes decorrentes do direito internacional costumeim como previsto na 

Convengao das Nac;ees Unidas sabre o Direito do Mar de 1982. 

2. Nada no presente Acorda prejudica os direitos ou obrigac;oes de cada 

uma das Partes decorrentes do direito internacional costumeiro relacionadocom a prestac;ao de assistencia a pessoas em perigo. 

Artigo 13.9 


Solu9ao de controversias 


As controversias relativas a aplicac;ao ou interpretac;ao do presente Acorda 

sao solucionadas atraves de consultas entre as Partes. 

Artigo 14.2 


Vigencia e denuncia 


1. 0 presente Acorda permanece em vigor por um perfodo indefinido de 

tempo. 

2. Qualquer das Partes pode, a qualquer momenta, denunciar o presente 

Acorda mediante notificac;ao previa, com seis meses de antecedencia, por 

escrito e por via diplomatica. 
Artigo 15.2 


Entrada em vigor 


o presente Acorda entrara em vigor trinta dias ap6s a rececao da ultima 

notifica~ao, por escrito e por via diplomatica, indicando que foram cumpridos 

os requisites de Direito interno das Partes necessaries para o efeito. 

Assinado em Oeiras, em 19 de janeiro de 2017, em dois exemplares 

originais, nas linguas inglesa e portuguesa, possuindo aml;>os os textos igual 

valor. 

Robert A. Sherman Jose Alberto Azeredo Lopes 


Embaixador Ministro da Defesa Nacional