On 4-6 September 2018 the IMRF held its second ‘subject-matter expert’ course in maritime mass rescue operations, at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. There were 26 participants from around the world – from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the UK.

The course considered, in some depth, issues common to such events – especially how to fill the SAR ‘capability gap’ implicit in the International Maritime Organization’s definition of an MRO, which is “characterised by the need for immediate response to large numbers of persons in distress, such that the capabilities normally available to the search and rescue authorities are inadequate”.

Participants discussed details of such operations and their coordination, the need for effective communications in what are complex and stressful circumstances, and the necessary training and testing regimes.

The deadline has been extended to 19 August 2018 to join the RNLI International’s Global Drowning Prevention Advocacy Training Programme

International NGO the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is calling on those affected by drowning across the world to apply for the chance to participate in a unique training programme to develop their skills to help raise awareness, influence decision makers and drive change globally on the issue of drowning prevention.

The organisation is looking for applications from anyone over the age of 18, who has been affected by drowning, rescued someone from the water or lives within a community affected by the issue. 

Currently, the voices of those on the front-line of the global drowning problem are absent from discussions on prevention.

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has been shortlisted in the category; Shoreside Team of the Year for The Safety at Sea Awards 2018.

The awards aim to promote safe and secure work practices across the commercial shipping industry and are organised by Safety at Sea, a leading publication for ship’s crew, with the goal of improving on board safety across the industry.

The nomination recognises the IMRF’s work to prevent loss of life at sea and provide relief from disaster at sea and inland waters. It acknowledges the work that the IMRF does to promote cooperation, exchange information, provide advice and consultancy and develop best practice between search and rescue organisations around the world.

Mohammed Drissi, Trustee at International Maritime Rescue Federation speaks about what he calls "Africa's silent killer": drowning. Drowning has become a silent epidemic, says Mr. Drissi, as it is causes the most deaths after malaria and malnutrition. However, what makes it dangerous is the fact that it is often out of sight.

After Malaria and malnutrition, drowning is the cause of more deaths than any other. Although a relatively rare occurrence, aircraft incidents involving fatalities make headline news across the world, yet an overturned canoe resulting in just as many deaths does not. Drowning has become the silent epidemic and is, unfortunately, often out of sight and out of mind.

Reducing deaths from drowning is a central pillar of the work currently being facilitated by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) and the continent of Africa has become a recent focus of attention. Sadly, there is a close correlation between poverty, lack of education and high mortality rates and many African nations need help to address the many deaths that are attributed to drowning.