Our Mission

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) brings the world's maritime search and rescue organisations together in one global - and growing - family, accredited at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

IMRF's member organisations share their lifesaving ideas, technologies and experiences and freely cooperate with one another to achieve their common humanitarian aim: "Preventing loss of life in the world's waters".

Maritime emergency search and rescue services are provided free of charge to those in need. Without a direct revenue stream from their work, maritime search and rescue organisations depend heavily on external funding to maintain these vital lifesaving services: either on scarce government funding, or, in many cases, on the charitable generosity of the public at large. By cooperating, through IMRF, with their fellow rescue organisations around the world, they can cost-effectively share the burden of developing rescue capability to meet ever-growing challenges, while learning from the ideas and experiences of others.