IMRF Awards 2023

Previous winners

The IMRF Awards acknowledge the dedication, ingenuity and selflessness of the SAR community. Over the years, the number of awards we receive has increased, reflecting the growing recognition of maritime SAR and its role in reducing loss of life on the world’s waters. If you know of any individual, team or organisation who has made a significant contribution to this effort, be it on a local, national, regional or global scale, please consider making a nomination.

2022 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Rosie Musters from Coastguard New Zealand
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - SAR Team R/V Ocean Viking from SOS Mediterraneé
#WomenInSAR Award - Andrew Tate from RNLI
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – NSRI’s Survival Swimming Centre
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Hendrik Spanjer from Maritime Institute Willem Barentsz and KNRM
People's Choice Award - Captain Isa Noah Amwe from RMRCC Lagos in Nigeria

View the Media Gallery - IMRF Awards 2022

2021 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Captain Chen Jian
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - Coastguard Nelson
#WomenInSAR Award - Anna Bertrandsson Littke & Krista Lynn Elvidge
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – JetRIB
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Patrick van Eyssen
People's Choice Award - Patrick van Eyssen

No IMRF Awards took place in 2020

2019 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Capt Huang Zhibin
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - Marine Rescue Port Macquarie
#WomenInSAR Award - Isobel Tugwell
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – MCA, Phillip Hanson
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Arthur Allen
People's Choice Award - David Jardine Smith

2018 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Captain Siddarth Sharma
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - KNRM Station Terschelling Paal 8
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – Pink Rescue Buoy, NSRI
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Johannes Kooijman & Captain Nikifor Guerchev
People's Choice Award - Canadian Coast Guard Rescue Specialists

2017 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Anton Tasanen
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - MOAS (the Migrant Offshore Aid Station)
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – RNLI Future Leaders Project Team 2016
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Association of Maritime and River Rescue in Uruguay (ADES)

2016 Winners

Outstanding Individual Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations – Captain Herve Lepage
Outstanding Team Contribution to Maritime SAR Operations - Proactiva Open Arms
Innovation & Technology in Maritime SAR – RNLI's James Benson and Bournemouth University
Vladimir Maksimov Award for Lifetime Achievement - Mohammed Drissi

Latest

TEST OUR MEMBERS TEST
Registration is now open for #SARyouOK? online workshop

Our first-ever #SARyouOK? workshop takes place on 26 April and registration is now open
European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme

The IMRF's European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme enables crew members from around the world to share ideas and experiences amongst their fellow maritime SAR organisations to improve capabilities and operational best practices
European Lifeboat Crew Exchange programme set to return in 2023

The programme is set to return in-person this year following several years of online webinars.

SAR Matters: Defining Distress Continued ...

People known to be in distress need to be rescued, of course – and the SAR community knows that this concept must also be extended to those believed to be in distress, and to those who, while not yet in distress, will become so if help is not provided to them in the meantime.
OLD - Join the IMRF - OLD

The IMRF brings together and represents the world’s maritime search and rescue organisations, including voluntary and governmental organisations, as well as suppliers to the sector, to improve maritime SAR capabilities worldwide.
MRO Home
WMRC 2023 - Registration Open

The fifth World Maritime Rescue Congress will be held from 18–20 June 2023 in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The Congress theme is: "Towards Sustainable Maritime SAR – Building on our History to Secure our Future."
The IMRF & Our Mission
Staff
Dean Storey, Assistant Commissioner NSW State Emergency Service tells us a bit about his background and his career up to this point

The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) is an emergency and rescue service dedicated to assisting the community. It is a volunteer-based organisation providing emergency assistance to the people of NSW 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Join Our Mailing List
Contact Us
The IMRF #WomenInSAR Initiative

The #WomenInSAR initiative aims to increase the representation of women in the maritime sector generally and to provide support for, and raise the profile of, women in the maritime SAR sector specifically.