When a distress call is received, time is of the essence. But searching for someone in vast and unpredictable waters often feels like trying to find a moving needle in an ever-shifting haystack. A recent literature review on Challenges and AI-driven solutions in maritime search and rescue planning explores this reality and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) might be poised to support the next generation of maritime search and rescue (MSAR) planning.

The review emphasises just how complex MSAR coordination truly is. Rescue teams often start with very little information about the situation, perhaps a vague last-known position or an incomplete distress signal. From there, search planners must make quick, high-stakes decisions based on limited information. But survivors aren’t stationary. They drift with wind, tides, and currents, meaning that search areas must be constantly reassessed and recalculated. Add unpredictable weather and rapidly changing sea conditions, and the task becomes even more daunting.

Resource constraints make things even more difficult. There may not be enough vessels, aircraft, or trained personnel available, especially in remote areas. Identifying the nearest suitable responders, coordinating their movements, and updating them as the situation changes all require time and effort.

Additionally, SAR teams must be able to adapt quickly as new data arrives, which can include correcting earlier assumptions or integrating more accurate location updates.

This is where AI could make a difference. The paper suggests that AI tools might significantly enhance situational awareness by quickly analysing data from weather systems, satellite imagery, and sea current models to improve drift predictions.

A key benefit of AI will initially be for Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC). The primary function of RCCs is to receive and respond to distress calls, and to respond to reports of overdue vessels and aircraft. AI will play a key role in helping to manage the information and data related to such events, and to become a rapid decision support tool for SAR coordinators.

While RCCs already use search planning software, AI could greatly reduce the time needed to evaluate information, assess and decide on best options and generate effective search patterns and instructions for SAR crews.

AI may also have a role on board rescue units to support decisions and to assist with navigation, safe operation of the vessel, helming of craft during searches and to monitor sensors to ensure that no targets are missed.

AI systems also show promise in learning how to allocate SAR resources more intelligently. By analysing past missions and performance, these systems could begin to understand what works best under specific conditions in different regions, improving overall efficiency. AI-driven tools could also assist with the planning and execution of SAR operations themselves, guiding drones, helping chart optimal routes to incident sites, and managing logistics in real time.

Another exciting prospect is the potential for AI to improve risk management. Systems could alert crews to hazards along the proposed search route or in the area of operations, flag unusual patterns, and support proactive decision-making rather than reactive responses.

Looking to the future, it’s possible to envision a more autonomous MSAR framework that is quicker, better coordinated, and more dependable. However, we are not there yet. The paper clearly indicates that several research gaps still need to be addressed, especially in fully integrating AI across all stages of SAR, from detection to rescue and post-operation analysis.

The IMRF warns against overdependence on automation. AI should assist, and support, not substitute, for human judgment. SAR must stay human-led, utilising technology as a smart support tool rather than an uncontrollable force.  Furthermore, we must not let human competences, skills and knowledge fade and rely too much on technology. Maintaining trust, ensuring reliability and upholding accountability are crucial, particularly when lives are on the line.

There is also a moral question to deal with: what is the point of the human if the machine can do all the work? If SAR exists to save human life, will an over-reliance on technology lead to the human becoming just an adjunct to the technology, and what does this mean for the continuance of human activity at sea?

Ultimately, AI has the potential to be a powerful partner in maritime rescue, but it must be developed and deployed carefully. With a proper balance of innovation and oversight, it could help us achieve our longstanding goal: to locate and save lives at sea faster, smarter, and more safely than ever before.

The IMRF is currently conducting a Global Maritime Search and Rescue Systems Review. This initiative aims to assess and strengthen the SAR ecosystem in preparation for the challenges of tomorrow.

As part of the review, IMRF is examining external factors that could shape future SAR operations, including technological advancements and the evolving role of artificial intelligence. Change inevitably brings both opportunities and constraints. While we may not always be able to influence the world around us, we can take proactive steps to anticipate and adapt, ensuring the SAR community is better prepared for the decades ahead.