Ship Security Alerting System

In the field of Search and Rescue, the Ship Security Alerting System (SSAS) is a new system that contributes to the International Maritime Organization's (IMO)'s efforts to strengthen maritime security and suppress acts of terrorism and piracy against shipping. The system is a joint project between Cospas-Sarsat and the IMO. In case of attempted piracy or terrorism, the ship's SSAS beacon can be activated, and appropriate law-enforcement or military forces can be dispatched. An SSAS beacon operates with similar principles to the aircraft transponder emergency code 7700.

When an SSAS alert is triggered:
 * the Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs) or SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs) for the country code the beacon is transmitting is notified discreetly
 * national authorities dispatch appropriate forces to deal with the terrorist or pirate threat