COSPAS-SARSAT Secretariat Contribution Program

Program Description

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is a satellite-based search and rescue (SAR) distress alert detection and information distribution system, best known for detecting and locating emergency beacons activated by aircraft, ships and backcountry hikers in distress.

The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme (the Programme) began as a joint effort of Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union in 1979. It was formally constituted as an intergovernmental organisation in 1988 through the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement (the Agreement or ICSPA) signed by the four “Parties” to the Agreement: Canada, France, the USA and the former USSR. The Russian Federation replaced the USSR as Party to the Agreement in January 1992.

Including the four Parties to the Agreement, 43 States and 2 organisations (the Participants) are now currently formally associated with the Programme and actively participate in the management and the operation of the Cospas-Sarsat System (the System).

The COSPAS-SARSAT assessed contribution meets Canada's obligation to pay its share of operational costs incurred by the COSPAS-SARSAT Secretariat in performing its administrative functions.

Eligible Recipients

The sole eligible recipient is the International COSPAS-SARSAT Programme.

Resources

• Terms and Conditions

Contact

• sarnif-fnirs@ps-sp.gc.ca

Date modified:

2023-11-15