Operating at the forefront of maritime risk management and crisis response, Vanguard Tech supports vessels, cargo and crews in some of the world’s most challenging environments. We spoke with Ellie Shafik, Director of Intelligence and Response, to learn more about the company’s work, its commitment to search and rescue (SAR), and the reasons it joined the IMRF’s global SAR community.

Vanguard Tech works across the maritime and marine insurance sector, offering a range of services focused on risk management and crisis response. Delivering an all-around approach to protecting vessels, cargo and crews operating in high-risk environments, they aim to move maritime emergencies toward controlled outcomes.

Managing a large spectrum of crises, such as emergency salvage, political detention, narcotics response, stowaway incidents, piracy and more, Vanguard Tech covers a broad operational spectrum within the maritime insurance broking space. The team brings together more than 50 years of expertise across insurance, crisis response and maritime operations.

They were inspired to join the IMRF to contribute to its crisis response experience to the wider SAR community. “At Vanguard Tech, SAR is a core part of our work, supporting distressed crews, medical emergencies, and evacuation scenarios in high-risk regions,” Ellie said.

She shares the company’s passion for SAR, having worked with crisis teams before joining Vanguard Tech.

“What draws me to SAR is its purpose to safeguard human life. The immediacy, the responsibility, and the need for absolute accuracy in those moments resonate strongly.”

From their offices in London, Greece, Dubai and Singapore, Vanguard Tech uses advanced data and technology to best calculate risk factors. By constantly analysing live ship tracking data, weather conditions and other data sources to predict and determine risk and best protect crews. These data systems allow for crises to be identified early and dealt with as quickly and smoothly as possible.

The global Crisis Response Division and the 24/7 Maritime Assistance and Coordination Centre (MAC) support teams in delivering data-led interventions.

“Our distributed network of SAR assets, salvage tugs, specialists, and field consultants ensures regional precision wherever incidents occur,” Ellie added.

Alongside MAC, Vanguard Tech relies on reporting from salvage specialists and global SAR field reports; they also have a constant line of communication with navies, coast guards, port authorities, and flag states. This allows for the highest level of precision and accuracy. Clients can rely on Vanguard Tech for every stage of the risk and crisis lifecycle without managing multiple brokers, consultants, or responders. The company is prioritising strengthening its global crisis-response capability in the coming year, whilst also advancing the technology at the core of this.

“Our goal is simple: to help save more lives at sea, more effectively and more collaboratively,” Ellie said. “We are honoured to join a global network dedicated to saving lives at sea. Vanguard Tech believes deeply in a shared mission: no crew in danger should ever stand alone.”

As the maritime landscape changes, Vanguard Tech is “entering a new era of complexity,” Ellie shared, “As threats evolve, the SAR and crisis-response community must evolve with it.”