Patron

Sir Efthimios E. Mitropoulos, KCMG

Mr. Mitropoulos is Secretary-General Emeritus of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the regulation of international shipping from the safety, security, environmental protection and facilitation of international maritime traffic points of view.

After 23 years of service at IMO (ten of which as Director of the Maritime Safety Division), he was elected Secretary-General in 2003 and re-elected in 2007 for a total of eight years.

As a graduate of both Merchant and Naval Academies of Greece, he spent time at sea as a navigation officer and twenty-five years as a commissioned Hellenic Coast Guard officer, retiring as a rear admiral, having represented Greece at IMO and various other international fora dealing with shipping matters over a twelve-year period and having spent two years as Harbour Master of Corfu.

While at IMO, he promoted the implementation of the International Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Convention while leading the campaign for the establishment of the Global SAR Plan through workshops, seminars and conferences (including in Lisbon, Seoul, Fremantle, Valencia etc.).

Between 2004 and 2012, he was Chancellor of the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden and Chairman of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Law Institute in Malta.

He is the author of several books on shipping, including texts on tankers, modern types of merchant ships, safety of navigation and shipping economics and policy.

He is Chairman of the Board of the “Maria Tsakos” Public Benefit Foundation – International Centre for Maritime Research and Tradition and Patron of two international maritime organizations, including IMRF.

He is a member of several shipping societies in Greece and in the United Kingdom and a recipient of many awards and distinctions from Governments (including Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (UK); Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic; Grand Ufficiale, Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, etc.), international organizations and universities. He is an honorary citizen of Galaxidi, Greece and Malmö, Sweden.

Latest

Celebrating 100 Years of International Co-operation in Maritime SAR

In 2024, the IMRF celebrates its 100th anniversary. However, the important work of the maritime SAR community long predates that and provides a crucial link to the federation’s future.
Save The Date: IMRF Annual Meeting 2023

The IMRF's Annual Meeting will take place on 7-8 November 2023 in Norway. This meeting is kindly hosted by the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (RS) at their Training Centre, RS Noatun, in Horten in Norway,
#SARyouOK? – Jacob Tas, Chief Executive Officer, KNRM

Jacob Tas talks about the sometimes tragic nature of maritime SAR operations and how SAR organisations must do their bit to support their crews during these difficult events.
Blog: Henk Spanjer, lecturer at MIWB and volunteer at KNRM

We sit down with Henk Spanjer, the keynote speaker at this year's WMRC in Rotterdam, about his drive to help people in trouble at sea

SAR Matters: Defining Distress Continued ...

People known to be in distress need to be rescued, of course – and the SAR community knows that this concept must also be extended to those believed to be in distress, and to those who, while not yet in distress, will become so if help is not provided to them in the meantime.
OLD - Join the IMRF - OLD

The IMRF brings together and represents the world’s maritime search and rescue organisations, including voluntary and governmental organisations, as well as suppliers to the sector, to improve maritime SAR capabilities worldwide.
WMRC 2023 - Registration Open

The fifth World Maritime Rescue Congress will be held from 18–20 June 2023 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The Congress theme is: "Towards Sustainable Maritime SAR – Building on our History to Secure our Future."
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Dean Storey, Assistant Commissioner NSW State Emergency Service tells us a bit about his background and his career up to this point

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community. It is a volunteer-based organisation providing emergency assistance to the people of NSW 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Basic Rescue Boat Operator Manual & Search Cards

This manual, together with the accompanying Rescue Boat Operator Search Cards, provides recommended best practice for any organisation looking at introducing basic training in Rescue Boat SAR operations.