Mass Rescue Operations Guidance for Maritime Search and Rescue Organisations

 The IMRF is running its fourth MRO Subject Matter Expert Course in June 2024. To find out more, click here.

The IMRF has developed comprehensive guidance on the conduct of Mass Rescue Operations (MROs). 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) 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 search and rescue authorities are inadequate”. 

The distress case may be of any type, but it is so complex that it is beyond normal capability. Due to such cases being so rare, SAR organisations are usually inexperienced at responding to them. For anyone involved in maritime SAR, this is the challenge. 

An MRO requires additional responders and equipment, enhanced coordination and communication structures, careful planning, specific training and testing, and learning from the experience of others. The IMRF seeks to share that experience. 

The IMRF’s Mass Rescue Operations project team has: 

• Developed comprehensive guidance for maritime SAR operations preparing for MROs
• Produced MRO Summary Guidance and an Example MRO Plan
• Prepared an online MRO Library of useful information
• Run a series of international MRO conferences
• Developed an MRO Workshop format, to help with awareness-raising and local and regional planning
• Developed an MRO Subject-Matter Expert course
• Contributed extensively to a review of the MRO guidance in the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR).
• Produced two MRO podcasts
   

The guidance in the IMRF’s online MRO Library is intended for use by any SAR organisation who may find it helpful and is freely available. 

If you have any material that you would like to submit to our MRO library, please e-mail [email protected].