We Work to Develop and Improve Maritime Search and Rescue

We are the only global non-governmental organisation working to develop and improve maritime search and rescue around the world and thereby save lives.

The World Health Organization estimates that 372,000 lives are lost in the world’s waters every year. This equates to one person every 85 seconds dying or more than 40 people per hour. However, we believe the true figure is likely to be higher.

Many of these deaths could be prevented by improved maritime search and rescue (SAR) services and increased awareness of the importance of safety on the world’s waters.

That is why your support is so vital. Thank you.

World Health Organization’s (WHO) global drowning mortality estimate does not include drownings which are a consequence of another classified external cause of death. For example, deaths from transport incidents, including those where vessels carrying migrants, refugees and stateless people capsize, and flooding.

We Are Saving Lives ...

We are saving lives through a range of international, regional and national projects, examples include:

Internationally

We are working hard to complete the Global Search and Rescue (SAR) Plan, continuing to coordinate training and development initiatives with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) (new window).

To date, over 160 people from 16 countries across North and West Africa have attended these courses since the end of 2014, leading to increased SAR knowledge and capability resulting in a more professional response to maritime incidents and improved reporting of incidents in these regions.

Regionally

We are playing a key role in saving lives in the Aegean through our Mixed Migrant Safety Project, where we have helped build the capacity of the local rescue service, the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) (new window) by co-ordinating the assistance of our members, including the provision of 12 rescue boats, equipment and the training of local volunteer crew.

In July 2016 it was announced that the Mixed Migrant Safety Project has saved over 5000 lives (and counting)!

Nationally

Responding to the resource needs and requests of developing SAR services around the world for example, distributing 1000 lifejackets to fishermen in Bangladesh (new window), who did not have lifejackets, following the death of 320 fishermen in one storm in September 2015.

Make Your Choice & Donate!

Thank you for donating to the IMRF and playing your part in saving lives in the world’s waters.

You can make a 1-off donation, or you can set up a regular payment.

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Your Donation(s) & Contact Details

Your payments are protected by the local security measure of Raising IT, PCI Service Provider Level 1 and by the Paypal Security System. Paypal will ask for your e-mail address and some of your contact details, but we will only use it to complete the donation and for sending you a thank you e-mail, or letter.

If available, your name and contact details will be stored in our Sage system and database to create a record of your kind donation. 

We will not sell, or give, your details to third parties.

If at any point you wish your name and any contact details are no longer be stored by us, please contact us at [email protected]..