Skip over main navigation
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
International Maritime Rescue Federation
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
Donate Member Login
  • Twitter
Menu
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • The IMRF & Our Mission
    • History
    • Meet the Team
      • Staff
      • Trustees
      • Patron
      • Ambassadors
    • Our Members
    • Asia Pacific Regional Centre
    • How We're Funded
    • Governance
  • What We Do
    • Where We Work
    • Advocacy
      • About Advocacy
      • Migration and Search & Rescue
    • Sharing SAR Information
    • Projects
      • Global SAR Development
      • Mass Rescue Operations
      • European Lifeboat Crew Exchange
      • Panels Summary
    • Strategy
    • Annual Report
  • News
    • Latest News - English
    • News - Spanish
    • Noticias para Miembros
    • Events - Spanish
    • News - Russian
    • LIFE LINE PDF - Library
    • Share Your Story
    • Newsletter Subscription
    • IMRF Blog
  • Membership
    • Join the IMRF
    • Members Only
    • IMRF Supporter Only
  • Support our work
    • Become a Supporter of the IMRF
    • Donate
    • Fundraise
      • Current Appeals
      • Submit Your Fundraising Event
      • Fundraising Ideas
      • Past Fundraising Events
    • Become a Partner
    • Trusts and Foundations
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Resources
    • COVID-19 & Pandemic Response
    • #WomenInSAR
    • Mass Rescue Operations
    • MRO - Subject-Matter Expert Course
    • IMO Documents
    • Rescue Boat Guidelines
    • Shark-A Lifeboat Design Assurance Tool
    • Members Assisting Members
    • ChemSAR
  • Events
    • IMRF Awards
    • What's On
    • Public Webinar Recordings
  • Shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  • The IMRF & Our Mission
  1. Who We Are
  2. The IMRF & Our Mission

The IMRF & Our Mission

Our Organisation

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity around the world, improving maritime SAR capability worldwide.

The IMRF brings together the world's maritime SAR organisations and has both voluntary and governmental organisations as members. As well as capacity building, the IMRF also has an advocacy role, providing an international voice for its members.

It is the only maritime SAR NGO with consultative status at the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO).


Our Work

facilitates cooperation; 
and the exchange of information, research and development, advice and consultancy between maritime search and rescue services around the world; 
encourages and supports the formation and development of new maritime search and rescue services; 
provides training in maritime search and rescue operational skills, including those required for a Mass Rescue Operation (MRO), and;
promotes public education and raises awareness of the importance of safety on the water.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 estimates that 320,000 people drown every year.

Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.

Global estimates may significantly underestimate the actual public health problem related to drowning.

Many of these deaths could be prevented by improved maritime SAR services, which is why the work of the IMRF is so important.

Read more on the World Health Organization (WHO) Website.


Our Mission

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) brings the world's maritime search and rescue organisations together in one global - and growing - family, having consultative status with the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

IMRF's member organisations share their lifesaving ideas, technologies and experiences and freely cooperate with one another to achieve their common humanitarian aim: "Improving Maritime SAR Capability Worldwide".

Maritime emergency search and rescue services are provided free of charge to those in need. Without a direct revenue stream from their work, maritime search and rescue organisations depend heavily on external funding to maintain these vital lifesaving services: either on scarce government funding, or, in many cases, on the charitable generosity of the public at large.

By cooperating, through IMRF, with their fellow rescue organisations around the world, they can cost-effectively share the burden of developing rescue capability to meet ever-growing challenges, while learning from the ideas and experiences of others. 


For more information about the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), view our Activity Reports page.

Published: 6th February, 2019

Updated: 11th August, 2020

Author:

Share this page
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Latest

  • The 2022 IMRF Awards are now open for nominations

    The 2022 IMRF Awards are now open for nominations

    Its time to recognise your colleagues for their exceptional actions and applaud their expertise and skills in conducting SAR rescue operations. Nominations for the 2022 IMRF Awards are now open.

  • The IMRF’s #WomenInSAR Initiative … Three Years On

    The IMRF’s #WomenInSAR Initiative … Three Years On

    On the first International Day for Women in Maritime, we take a look back at all the work the IMRF has done since it launched the #WomenInSAR initiative in June 2019.

  • Blog: #WomenInSAR - Martina Capriotti

    Blog: #WomenInSAR - Martina Capriotti

    We talk to Martina Capriotti, a water rescue trainer and board member of the Italian Federation of Aquatic Rescue (FISA), about the IMRF’s upcoming International #WomenInSAR training and seminar, as well as the role of women in modern SAR operations.

  • Podcast: Why Gender Balance in Maritime SAR Matters

    Podcast: Why Gender Balance in Maritime SAR Matters

    Caroline Jupe, IMRF’s Head of Fundraising & Projects, sits down with Jori Nordström from the Finnish Lifeboat Institution and Michael Vlasto, former IMRF Chair and Chair of the IMRF Awards committee, to discuss why gender balance matters in maritime search and rescue (SAR).

Related

  • Governance

  • Contact Us

  • How We're Funded

Most read

  • Chapter 20: The On Scene Coordinator

    Chapter 20: The On Scene Coordinator

    Command, Control, Coordination, Communication

  • Chapter 19: The SAR Mission Coordinator

    Chapter 19: The SAR Mission Coordinator

    Command, Control, Coordination, Communication

  • International Mass Rescue Conference (G5) – Last Remaining Places Available

    International Mass Rescue Conference (G5) – Last Remaining Places Available

    There are only 20 places left. Registration closes on the 31 May 2022. To secure your place, please make sure you have paid the registration fee by 31 May 2022.

  • Chapter 17: Command, Control & Coordination

    Chapter 17: Command, Control & Coordination

    Command, Control, Coordination, Communication

  • Join the IMRF

    Join the IMRF

    Be part of the international NGO that is working to improve global maritime SAR capability. IMRF Members support each other and share knowledge, experience, expertise and innovations through the programme of webinars, conferences, meetings, forums and other activities.

  • Chapter 28: Exercises and Drills

    Chapter 28: Exercises and Drills

    Training, Exercises and Drills, and Learning from Experience

  • SAR Matters: Defining Distress Continued ...

    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.

  • Full Members

    Full Members

  • Chapter 18: The SAR Coordinator

    Chapter 18: The SAR Coordinator

    Command, Control, Coordination, Communication

  • The IMRF & Our Mission

    The IMRF & Our Mission

Tag cloud

#WomenInSAR STEM Award Finalists 2016 COVID-19 Exchange Exchange - News IMRF Awards IMRF Awards - Home IMRF Blog Latest News Members MRO Chapters News - English Past Awards 2016 Past Awards 2017 Past Awards 2018 What's On

Latest tweet

Join Our Mailing List

Sign up now
  • Shop
  • Governance
  • How We're Funded
  • Members Login
  • Members Only Area
  • IMRF Supporter Only Area
  • Members Logout
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Use of Cookies

Copyright © International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) 2022.
All Rights Reserved. 

Company Registration Number: 04852596 - Charity Registration Number: 1100883

Corporate Supporters



Manage Cookie Preferences