Staff from DGzRS have taken part in the IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange every year since its establishment and have helped to develop this much valued annual event. Read more
IMRF holds its 8th annual European Lifeboat Crew Exchange, where crew members swap places to learn about different equipment and gain experience in new locations The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has successfully held its eighth European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme, with 72 maritime search and rescue (SAR) professionals from 14 countries across Europe taking part. Read more
Lifeboat Crew Exchange 2020 – Webinar Sessions
Because of the COVID-19 restrictions that are still in place in many countries, the IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange programme cannot be held in its usual format this year.
However, we are pleased to announce that, in keeping with the spirit behind the Crew Exchange, we will be holding two virtual events, in the form of webinars, during what would have been Crew Exchange Week 2020.
These webinars will be held on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 (“Learning from each other”) and Thursday, 24 September 2020 (“Equipment, Innovation & Technology”) from 19:30–20:30 CEST (Central European Summer Time).
Both webinars are open only to IMRF Members and will be free of charge.
SAR organisations who would normally have been hosting Crew Exchange participants will instead be sharing presentations and videos on a number of topics of relevance to anyone with an interest in lifeboat operations, including new vessel technology and lessons learned from incidents and accidents.
The webinars will also provide an opportunity to ask questions and contribute your own experiences.
We hope you will want to take part in these free webinars, so please keep checking the website for more details as they become available, including information on how to join.
The European Lifeboat Crew Exchange was initiated in 2012 to bring together volunteers from European lifeboat organisations to train together, hosted by the participating groups, and it continues to be a success and grow.
IMRF Key Messages
The Next Exchange Programme Week in 2021
Thinking about joining the Exchange Programme in 2021? Click here to find out how.
News
This unique programme takes volunteers from a variety of European maritime rescue services and gives them the opportunity to visit other countries to experience and learn from their Search and Rescue (SAR) practices. Read more
For the sixth year running, search and rescue (SAR) crew from across Europe will be swapping places with their counterparts to take part in a week-long Lifeboat Crew Exchange organised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Read more
This year saw the 5th IMRF Crew Exchange and not only did the crew involved learn all about SAR in a different country they were also involved in helicopter crash training, survival techniques and rescuing crew mates from capsized boats. Read more
London, Thursday, 13 October 2016. Helicopter crash training, survival techniques in cold water, rescuing crew mates from capsized boats and lifeguarding were just some of the activities for the 65 volunteers in the latest European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme. Read more
London, Monday, 19 September 2016. For the fifth consecutive year, rescue volunteers from European nations are to participate next week in a seven day Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme organised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Read more
The final planning for the 2016 Lifeboat Crew Exchange was completed in late May with a meeting of the coordinators from the nine countries that will be hosting this year. The 2016 Crew Exchange will take place 24 September - 1 October 2016. Read more
The IMRF European Lifeboat Crew Exchange, coordinated by Linde Jelsma of KNRM, the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution, attracted participants from 13 countries this year: two more than in 2014. Read more
London, Monday, 19th October 2015. The fourth European lifeboat crew exchange attracted members from 13 countries – two more than last year – who shared experience on how to help reduce the numbers of people losing their lives in Europe’s waters. Read more
London, Thursday, 17th September 2015. Rescue volunteers from across 13 European nations are to participate next week in the fourth, seven day Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme organised by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Read more
The successful IMRF European Lifeboat Crew Exchange project continues to grow with the introduction of the French lifeboat service, SNSM, bringing the number of participating organisations to 11. Read more
The IMRF European Region's lifeboat crew exchange project started in 2012 and has run in the first week of October each year since. Read more
Lifeboat crew members from 11 countries took part in the IMRF's third annual international crew exchange this autumn. Read more
London, Thursday, 23 October 2014. Lifeboat Crew members from 11 countries have been involved in a European Exchange Programme designed to help reduce the numbers of people losing their lives in Europe's waters. Read more
London, Monday, 22 September 2014. Rescue volunteers from across nine European nations are to participate next week in the third, seven day, Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme organised by the IMRF. Read more
Excitement is building, bags are being packed and phrase books pored over as more than 50 volunteers from organisations in nine countries prepare for the 2014 European Lifeboat Crew Exchange, running from 28 September to 4 October. Read more
Sharing SAR expertise and experience is one of the IMRF's main aims. Ten members of Malta's St John Rescue Corps recently had a week's training with various rescue organisations based in the lake area of Konstanz in Germany. Read more
London, Thursday, 26 September 2013. Rescue volunteers from across nine European nations are to participate next week in a seven day Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme sharing experiences and knowledge, to improve maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) responses and help to prevent loss of life in Europe's waters. Read more
Got a crew you'd like to swap...? Read more