navigation to achieve a comparable standard throughout the Region, pooling resources and sharing expertise. 4. Member States shall take all steps necessary to develop their search and rescue capacity on a regional basis by a) the consideration of practical low cost actions to improve capacity with immediate effect; b) the investigation of options to develop a regional search and rescue organisation with participation by all Member States including a consideration of available search and rescue capacity and capability, funding requirements and legal, operational and organisational requirements; and c) the promotion of effective co-operation with the police force or coast guards and the civil aviation sub-sector and the telecommunications and meteorology sectors. 5. Member States shall co-operate in developing the standard of hydrographic practice within the Region, in conjunction with the Regional Hydrographic commission and shall focus on a) the updating of existing charts or the charting of the coastline and inland waterways of the Region, including all ports; b) maintaining of updated charts on a regular basis; and c) co-operation with regard to the application of hydrographic services and coordination of work plans, exchange of information and optimising resources where practical. 6. Member States shall promote rules and standards in respect of service conditions and treatment accorded to seafarers at sea and on shore and shall focus on a) minimum standards in merchant ships; b) seafarers' welfare at sea and in port; c) health protection and medical care for seafarers; d) social security; and e) care and repatriation of seafarers. 7. Member States shal1 co-operate in the protection of the marine environment by a) effective delineation of responsibility for environmental protection; b) continuous creation of awareness in their territories of marine environmental damage, cause and effect; c) preparation and implementation of oil spill contingency plans, including sharing resources;