Save The Date: IMRF MRO Subject Matter Expert Course, June 2024

The IMRF is pleased to announce that we will be hosting our fourth Maritime Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) Subject-Matter Expert Course in June 2024. The course will be facilitated by a team of MRO experts including Tom Gorgol Program Manager – MRO at the United States Coast Guard, and Rod Elkins, MRO Specialist at the United States Coast Guard.

The course will dive into the complexity of managing an MRO and provide students the opportunity to develop course of actions through scenario-based training.

The content will be based on the guidance developed in the IMRF’s MRO Project, underpinned by the provisions of the IAMSAR Manual.

The manual defines an MRO as “characterised by the need for immediate response to large numbers of persons in distress such that the capabilities normally available to the SAR authorities are inadequate”. MROs are, therefore, among the most serious emergencies that may be faced by those responsible for providing SAR services.

Please note, that the course will be conducted in English, and that to qualify for a course certificate attendance at the full course will be required. Furthermore, students are encouraged to bring MRO plans (or drafts) in order to apply, validate, or make edits during the scenario-based training.

Registration will open in late 2023, but places on this popular course are strictly limited and normally sell out! To pre-register your interest, please e-mail Caroline Jupe on [email protected].

As in previous years, there will be a registration fee for this course and attendees need to pay for and arrange their own travel and accommodation as well as any other costs incurred in attending the course. The only meals provided will be lunches on the days of the course, all other meals and refreshments will be needed to be paid for by the attendees themselves.