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Imrf News

01 Apr 2024

IMRF Assesses Climate Change Impact on Maritime SAR Operations

(Photo: International Maritime Rescue Federation)

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) released its #FutureSAR Report as part of the organization's ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the impacts and effects of climate change on global maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations.The report marks the completion of the first phase of the IMRF #FutureSAR initiative, which is funded and supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation. The initiative's purpose is to identify challenges related to climate change for the global maritime SAR industry and provide guidance and best practices for future rescue operations


15 Feb 2024

#SARyouOK? Initiative Launches Best Practice Framework

Source: IMRF

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has launched its #SARyouOK? Guidance and Best Practice Framework.The #SARyouOK? initiative is supported by the Trinity House DFT Maritime Safety Fund and aims to promote awareness of mental health and wellbeing issues and break down the attached stigma for those working in the maritime search and rescue (SAR) sector.This initiative provides comprehensive guidance on mental health and wellbeing for maritime SAR services. The aim


19 Nov 2023

IMRF Launches #SAFERSAR Initiative

Source: IMRF

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has launched its #SaferSAR initiative which will look to enable global search and rescue (SAR) organisations to better collect, analyse and share maritime SAR incident response data.The aim is to enhance future maritime SAR response operations.The initiative, which is being funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, will encompass a 12-month feasibility study for a globally accessible platform that SAR personnel and organisations can use to share lessons and best practices identified in SAR response


19 Oct 2023

Inmarsat Maritime Safety Team Wins IMRF Award

John Dodd, Director of Safety Services and Roger Barry, Safety Engineering Manager, Inmarsat Maritime, with the IMRF Award certificate. Image courtesy Inmarsat

Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat business, won the 2023 International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Award for Innovation and Technology in Maritime Search and Rescue after a highly respected judging panel led by former IMRF Chair Michael Vlasto selected its entry from a shortlist of 10 individuals and organisations.Acknowledging “volunteer and professional search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel from around the world”, the prestigious award highlights “those who have shown excellence in their field


18 Oct 2023

IMRF Announces 2023 SAR Award Winners

Geoffrey Denman (Source: IMRF)

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has announced the winners of this year’s IMRF Awards, which recognize all those involved in global maritime search and rescue (SAR) efforts.The IMRF Awards acknowledge those that have shown excellence in their field, developed innovative technology and equipment, or acted as a role model to inspire others. The awards also shine a light on those colleagues who offer the tireless support, training, and planning that enables SAR crews to do what they do


09 May 2023

Nominations Open for IMRF Awards 2023

© icholakov / Adobe Stock

Nominations have opened for this year’s International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) annual awards, which looks to recognise volunteer and professional maritime search and rescue (SAR) personnel from around the world.This year’s awards, which will be the eighth to take place, will also focus on those who have dedicated their lives to developing maritime SAR services, as well as those developing innovative technology and equipment, and those encouraging more women to enter a


05 Mar 2021

New Pandemic Response Guidance for Maritime SAR Organizations

©  ID1974 / Adobe Stock

New manual provides vital recommendations for operational planning and response in health emergenciesThe International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, has launched comprehensive guidance for anyone working in search and rescue, on how to ensure that SAR operations can continue safely in the face of challenges posed not only by COVID-19, but also by any future health emergencies.The Pandemic Response Guidance will support SAR providers


18 Nov 2019

SAR Traning for African Women

Training for African women working in search and rescue (SAR) operations underwent at the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rabat, Morocco (13-15 November).Thirteen officials from developing countries and Small Island Developing States took part in the first regional training course of this kind. The participating states were Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Senegal, Seychelles and South Africa.The course included a practical exercise on a rescue boat and provided a platform to discuss how to improve and enhance the knowledge of African women working in SAR and to provide them with appropriate tools to manage SAR missions.International Maritime Organization (IMO)


09 Apr 2018

UK P&I Club Supports IMRF Maritime Mass Rescue Projects

Photo: UK P&I Club

The UK P&I Club has made a significant donation to the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) to support its work developing resources, training and building preparedness for maritime mass rescue operations. The IMRF is the international non-governmental organization which works to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capability around the world, preventing loss of life in the world's waters. Mass rescue operations, are defined by the International Maritime Organization


26 Sep 2016

IMRF Launches Children’s Lifejacket Campaign

Lifejackets have been donated by ActionAid to the International Maritime Rescue Federation to send to the Mediterranean to help adults and children who need rescuing on a daily basis. The 300 lifejackets – 150 for adults and the rest for children – will be sent to Sea-Watch in Malta who are performing rescues and who are in desperate need of lifejackets for children and babies. To boost the supply of lifejackets an online fundraising campaign to ‘keep children afloat in the Mediterranean’  is being set up by the IMRF to raise funds for its member NGOs so infant and baby size lifejackets can be made available. The IMRF’s member organisations, who are maritime search and rescues NGOs working in this region, urgently need children’s lifejackets to ensure that lives are saved.

19 Sep 2016

Lifeboat Crew Exchange Hits Fifth Year

Photo: IMRF

For the fifth consecutive year, rescue volunteers from European nations are to participate next week in a seven day Lifeboat Crew Exchange Program organized by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). The well-established program will include representatives from 13 countries and nine will host a full exchange seven days in their respective locations with each country able to send seven crew members each going to a different country. They will share experiences and


15 Sep 2016

Inmarsat Sponsorship for safety H.E.R.O.

Inmarsat will commemorate the untimely passing earlier this year of one of the architects of its Maritime Safety Operations network by sponsoring the first International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) H.E.R.O. Award for outstanding service to maritime search and rescue, 'The Vladimir Maksimov Award'. The sponsorship is seen as a fitting tribute to Vladimir Maksimov, Inmarsat Director of SOLAS Services, who died on 4th May 2016 after a short illness, following 25 years with Inmarsat. Mr Maksimov played a central role in the Inmarsat safety team. The H.E.R.O. (Honouring Excellence in Rescue Operations) Awards, launched by the IMRF in April this year, have been developed to draw attention to the extraordinary work done to save lives in maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) across the world.

02 Jun 2016

Lifeboat Donated to Hellenic Rescue Team

Norway II (Photo: IMRF)

A new lifeboat has been donated to the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) by fellow International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) members the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (RS), and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. ‘Norway II’ is the second lifeboat to be donated to HRT and follows ‘Norway I’ that has operated since September last year in the Aegean Sea around Kos. In her speech on Lesvos, the ‘godmother’ of the boat, Mrs. Marit Nybakk, Vice President of the Parliament


18 May 2016

New Lifeboat Station Aids Greek SAR Services

A new lifeboat station has been opened on the Greek island of Chios – with the cooperation of International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) members – to help support the rescue of migrants in the Aegean. The Lifeboat station was made possible through a partnership between Koninklijke Nederlandse Redding Maatschappij (KNRM), the maritime search and rescue service from the Netherlands, and the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), and with the support of the Maria Tsakos Foundation along with community leaders and local volunteers. At an event to celebrate the opening of the centre – which was completed in only three months – two lifeboat vessels donated by the KNRM, Athena and Arina to be deployed on the surrounding waters, were also christened.

23 Feb 2016

Migrant Rescue: IMRF To Support Aegean Services

Bruce Reid (Photo: IMRF)

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), an IMRF member organization which is constantly rescuing migrants in the Aegean Sea. The IMRF will do this with the support of European maritime search and rescue (SAR) organizations who are also IMRF members. Following a temporary drop in the number of people trying to reach the Greek islands by sea in November, figures from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) are showing an increase again.

28 Jan 2016

IMRF: People in Distress Should be Rescued by All Vessels

Bruce Reid (Photo: IMRF)

Recent reports that some would-be rescuers do not fully understand the legal context of rescue at sea, and may have been deterred from helping people in distress because of possible legal action by local authorities seeking to counter trafficking activity are misplaced, according to the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). Bruce Reid, IMRF’s Chief Executive Officer, says: “Great work is being done by professional rescue crews from all over Europe, coordinated by our friends in the Italian and Hellenic Coast Guards, with the assistance too of SAR colleagues in Malta and Turkey.

14 May 2014

IMRF Gains Formal Legal Status in China

IMRF Chairman and APRC Vice- Chairman, Michael Vlasto, with APRC Chairman, Captain Song

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has successfully registered its Asia Pacific regional centre (APRC) in China, giving it formal legal status and providing a timely boost to maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) development in the region. Registration means that the IMRF, which has operated an office in Shanghai since 2011, can advance its activities without the limitations of Chinese law places on non-registered organizations. As a legal entity in China the IMRF can now operate a corporate bank account


02 Jul 2014

Transas Simulators Used During IMRF Exercises

Photo courtesy of Transas

On June 1, a mass rescue simulation exercise using Transas Navigational simulator NTPRO 5000 took place within the International Maritime Mass Rescue Conference 2014 held by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF). The conference was hosted by the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS). More than 100 participants gathered at simulator facilities of the Chalmers Universty of Technology (Sweden) and the Swedish Maritime Administration. Both organizations use the latest Transas navigational simulator NTPRO 5000.

27 May 2015

IMRF, McMurdo Partner on SAR Initiatives

Bruce Reid (Photo: IMRF)

The IMRF, the charity supporting maritime SAR service globally, and McMurdo, a company in search and rescue and maritime domain awareness solutions, announced a partnership aiming at several key search and rescue (SAR) initiatives to be launched at next week’s World Maritime Rescue Congress in Bremerhaven, Germany. Working together the IMRF and McMurdo will target some of the key challenges facing maritime SAR globally including rescue team training, the safety of artisanal fishermen and the emerging requirements of SAR services managing the unsafe mixed migration by sea.

16 Oct 2013

Lifeboat Crews Conclude Training Program

www.maritimerescue.org

A seven day Lifeboat Crew Exchange Program involving rescue volunteers from nine countries has proved to be a fulfilling training exercise for all 55 participants. With the aim of exchanging knowledge, sharing ideas and building relationships between the voluntary institutions, the project is designed to help reduce the number of people losing their lives in Europe’s waters. Instigated by the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) and the Search and Rescue (SAR) organization KNRM from the Netherlands, the program has four clear objectives.

31 Oct 2013

Main Cause of NW African Search and Rescues: Fishermen

Fishermen with poor communications and safety equipment are one of the main reasons for search and rescue (SAR) call-outs off the coasts of North and West Africa. This was one of the main issues raised at the North West African meeting of the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) recently held in Gran Canaria. As well as representatives from the region several European SAR organisations also attended. The meeting was told that along the coast of Senegal alone there are some 13,000 artisanal fishermen, who often are not equipped to alert the authorities if they get into trouble.

25 Nov 2013

International Lifesaving Agreement to Help Prevent Drowning

Graham Ford (left), President of the ILS and Michael Vlasto, Chairman of the IMRF (right) shake hands on their agreement.

Worldwide, drowning is claiming and affecting millions of lives every year. To help combat this problem the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) and the International Lifesaving Federation (ILS) have agreed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The IMRF brings the world's maritime search and rescue (SAR) organizations together, whilst the ILS is the world authority for drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport. Both organizations already support and collaborate with national and international organizations engaged in drowning prevention


01 Sep 2015

Migrant Crisis Promts Call to IMRF for Help

Photo courtesy of IMRF

Mediterranean Rescue Services are in urgent need of support because they are struggling to keep up with the replacement of equipment being used to rescue the increasing numbers of migrants in their waters and have contacted the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) for help. In response, the IMRF is relaunching its ‘Members Assisting Members’ webpage to help identify the need and enable connection to the 2,500 contacts on the database that may be able to help. The three