Dear Member, At this time of unprecedented disruption, I wanted to send you a personal note as we all face the effects of COVID-19. If we haven’t already been affected, it is inevitable that everyone will be touched by it to some extent, whether it is in our work, our organisation or our own family and friends. Read more
The 5th IMRF Awards are now open for nominations. “Every day around the world, maritime search and rescue (SAR) volunteers and professionals save lives at sea. It’s a tradition as old as anyone can remember and enshrined in international and maritime law – but we shouldn’t take it for granted” says Theresa Crossley, CEO International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Read more
The IMRF in conjunction with the IMO held a search and rescue (SAR) administration and management training course in December 2019, in Rabat Morocco. Read more
In December 2019 the IMRF and the IMO held The East Africa SAR Regional Meeting, hosted by the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and including SAR professionals from Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, Uganda, and the Seychelles. Read more
In October delegates from IMRF member organisations across Europe attended the annual European Regional Development Meeting. This year it was hosted by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport & Infrastructure - Maritime Safety Directorate, Croatia and held at the Valamar Lacroma hotel in Dubrovnik on the 15th October 2019. Read more
The International Maritime Rescue Federation has held a basic rescue boat operating course, in conjunction with the RNLI, specifically tailored and structured for maritime SAR (search and rescue) professionals from Africa. Read more
The Joint Working Group (JWG) of the UN technical agencies the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization meets to discuss detailed SAR matters every year. Read more
In 2018 the Uruguayan Navy, who are responsible for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Uruguayan maritime search and rescue region, purchased two rescue vessels of 27m and 23m of length from the German Maritime SAR Service (DGzRS). Read more
After the success of our first Fundraising and Communication Skills-Share hosted by KNRM in 2017, we held our second Fundraising and Communication Skills-Share, hosted by SSRS, in Gothenburg, Sweden, on the 17th-19th September 2019. Nine SAR organisations from across Europe took part, spending 2 days sharing and learnings from each other. Read more
I am looking forward to my second term on the IMRF Board. I found the first four years a positive and enlightening experience and very rewarding albeit there were a few challenges along the way. Read more
IMRF members elected their new Board of Trustees on the 18 June 2019) at their Quadrennial General Meeting (QGM) in Vancouver. The meeting followed on from the 4th World Maritime Rescue Congress, which brought together maritime search and rescue specialists and equipment providers from around the globe. Read more
The 8th annual European Lifeboat Crew Exchange, where crew members swap places to learn about different equipment and gain experience in new locations, took place in September this year. Read more
As of the end of September I have retired from the IMRF so our Editor has asked me for a few words of farewell. I have been in SAR for some 36 years now. I was at sea in general cargo ships for nine years before that; then I was with the Coastguard in the UK for 25 years, in rescue coordination centres, and training and management roles. Read more
Exceptional search and rescue teams, outstanding individuals and innovative technology from around the world have been recognised in the annual IMRF Award. Read more
On 11 July 2019 Estonian S/Y Admiral Bellingshausen set the sail from Kronstadt to Antarctica to celebrate 200 years from the discovery of Antarctica by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, who was born in Saaremaa, Estonia. The lifeboats of the Estonian Volunteer Rescue Association, member of IMRF, were escorting the yacht from the very first moment until the end of the Estonian territorial waters. Read more
Baltic German Admiral Fabian Gottlieb Thaddeus von Bellingshausen was born in Saaremaa island in Estonia 1778. He was a leader of the first Russian Antarctic expedition that discovered the continent of Antarctica. To commemorate this discovery of Antarctica the Estonian Maritime Museum has organised a maritime expedition from Kronstadt to Antarctic peninsula by 24 meter S/Y Admiral Bellingshausen. Read more
The IMRF’s World Maritime Rescue Congress is held every four years. It’s our flagship event, and among the biggest SAR conferences in the world – and, although this was only the fourth Congress under the IMRF’s flag, it has a long and proud history. We think that this year’s event lived up to that tradition. Read more
Knowing exactly where an incident is taking place helps Emergency Services to respond efficiently and effectively. However, emergencies can happen anywhere, often in places not covered by an accurate or reliable street address - let alone a unique landmark or reliable mobile connection. Read more
In 2019 We Have Welcomed the Following Members into the IMRF Community Read more
As part of its ongoing #WomenInSAR initiative and supporting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) theme of empowering women, the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has held its first all-women maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) training in Morocco. Read more
The International Maritime Rescue Federation has held a basic rescue boat operating course, in conjunction with the RNLI, specifically tailored and structured for maritime SAR (search and rescue) professionals from Africa. The teaching is designed to be a ‘train the trainer’ course, so the participants will return home and share the learnings with their organisations and colleagues. Read more
Exceptional search and rescue teams, outstanding individuals and innovative technology from around the world have been recognised in the annual IMRF Awards Read more
Voting has opened for the IMRF’s People’s Choice Award 2019 and the finalist with most ‘likes’ on facebook at 1800hrs GMT on Monday 9 September will be announced as the winner. Read more