Annual meeting 2024 - 100 years of excellence in SAR!

We are thrilled to announce the theme for the 2024 Annual Meeting is: "Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Everywhere and at All Times." This special event, marking 100 years of IMRF Excellence, will be hosted by the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki, Greece. Attendance is complimentary for all IMRF members. If you are not a member but want to join us, click here.

Enrol for this exciting gathering on 27 and 28 November 2024, not only to celebrate a century of excellence in search and rescue but also to network with your colleagues in the global SAR family! You can now register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/annual-meeting-and-edi.

In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, we are organising our first ever Equality, Diversity and Inclusion seminar on 26 November. This seminar is a valuable addition to the Annual Meeting, providing a platform to discuss and promote these important topics in our industry. You can register for the EDI seminar using the same registration form as for the Annual Meeting. Read more about the EDI seminar.

Dates: 27-28 November 2024.

Location: Grand Hotel Palace, Thessaloniki, Greece

Theme: The theme of the meeting is SAR Everywhere and at All Times. As we celebrate the IMRF centenary, we will be discussing our past, present and future. After assessing our collective achievements, we shift focus to our current priorities. As we work together to map out the future of our industry, including future challenges and opportunities, this year’s meeting’s main objective will be on SAR organisations’ sustainability, including our #FutureSAR project, and the use of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). We will also focus on our key advocacy role in influencing policy and regulation for our sector.

Cost: There is no registration fee for this event, as it’s a members' benefit. However, for this year only and due to the high anticipated number of attendees, there will be a charge for those attending the celebration dinner on 27 November. The evening will bring us together to celebrate our achievements over the past 100 years of advancing maritime SAR around the globe.

Programme Outline

Wednesday 27 November

IMRF 100 Years – looking back at past achievements of sharing and collaborating together as a global community.
Updates on IMRF Programmes and Panels.
Benefits of belonging to the IMRF community.
Member Focuses – your chance to present to the global SAR family (please indicate this on the registration form).
Sustainability in Maritime SAR Organisations – barriers, opportunities and tools for embedding sustainability into SAR organisations.
MASS (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships) – overview and discussions on the implications of the IMO MASS code on SAR.
IMRF Awards 2024.
Looking ahead to 2025.

Thursday 28 November

The history and the future plans of the Hellenic Rescue Team.
The Hellenic Coast Guard presents the SAR in Greece.
Two case studies from the Hellenic Rescue Team.
A different usage of the Rescue Runner: Thessalia’s flash flood operation.
A live demonstration of a MCI in Thessaloniki's port, with the collaboration of the Greek Coast Guard and multiple Hellenic Rescue Team's SAR vessels and volunteers.
Event ends in early afternoon.

Accommodation

You are free to choose any of the local hotels. However, we have negotiated the following prices for Grand Hotel Palace (www.grandhotelpalace.gr), which is also the venue for the meeting:

Classic single room: €100 per night
Classic double room: €115 per night
Deluxe single room: €115 per night
Deluxe double room: €130 per night

Please book your accommodation directly with the hotel through this link. Delegates can book their rooms through the link until October 26th. All delegates are responsible for paying for their own accommodation, travel and any visa needed as well as any refreshments that are not included in the programme.

For instructions on how to reach the hotel from Thessaloniki airport, Thessaloniki railway station or from Athens by car, please visit: https://www.grandhotelpalace.gr/en/hotel/access

Registration

To register for this event, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/annual-meeting-and-edi.

You can register for the EDI seminar using the same registration form as for the Annual Meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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