On the night of 28 September 1994, the M/S Estonia, a passenger ferry travelling from Tallinn to Stockholm, sank in the Baltic Sea. The incident resulted in significant loss of life; of the 989 crew and passengers aboard, only 137 survived, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in modern history. Sara Hedrenius, published author and Senior Advisor in Mental Health and Psychosocial Support at the Swedish Red Cross, was one of the survivors, and the memories of that fateful night remain clear in her memory. Severe weather conditions, with high waves and strong winds, made the mass re ..read more

With over two decades of experience in search and rescue (SAR), Tom Gorgol has dedicated his career to improving emergency response strategies, particularly for mass rescue operations. As the Mass Rescue Operations Program Manager at the Office of Search and Rescue, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., he plays a vital role in developing national policies, contingency plans, and collaborative strategies to enhance SAR capabilities. Before stepping into this role, Tom spent 21 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, including nine years in Rescue Coordination Centers, where he successfully ..read more

This manual, together with the accompanying Rescue Boat Operator Search Cards, provides recommended best practice for any organisation looking at introducing basic training in Rescue Boat SAR operations. The primary aim is to save lives by providing a resource containing essential skills, knowledge and guidance for those operating in a maritime environment. They have been designed as a guidance document and can be adapted to suit the local environment. The Search Cards are derived from the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR) Volume III and are designed to ..read more

For the search and rescue (SAR) community, the pandemic offered a unique opportunity for SAR organisations to develop their own best practices and structures as they continued to respond to call outs. The IMRF produced its ‘Pandemic Response Guidance for Maritime Search and Rescue Organisations’ document to help SAR organisations put these vital structures in place. The guidance document, produced with the support of Lloyd’s Register Foundation, is designed to be used as a basis for the planning and delivery of maritime SAR services in future pandemics and major health emergencies. It includes ..read more

Roly McKie presented on Search and Rescue Considerations and Challenges for Autonomous and Remotely Operated Vessels at the Third, JAMS London, International Seminar on 6-7 March. The full presentations can be viewed here if you would like to learn more. He raised concerns about the effectiveness of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) in SAR operations and the necessity for these vessels to be able to rescue people from the water, rather than merely providing other forms of 'assistance.' This would require the installation of appropriate rescue and recovery equipment and some basic facili ..read more

Enthusiasm and dedication during the latest round of the #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme are evident when speaking to mentor Christina Sharun from the Canadian Coast Guard. She believes that mentoring programmes benefit everyone involved.   “I loved the idea that participating could help expand the network of women in SAR. In my experience, mentorship programmes provide an excellent opportunity for sharing knowledge and serve as a platform for like-minded individuals to support one another,” she stated.   One memorable experience from her mentoring journey seeing her mentee, S ..read more

Survey Our #FutureSAR initiative continues to gather information on the impacts of climate change and adaptation efforts worldwide. As part of this effort, the IMRF has created a survey for the second phase of the #FutureSAR project, titled “Harnessing the Tides of Change”, aiming to ensure SAR operations remain effective and safe in extreme weather conditions.  The survey will provide critical insights into how SAR organisations worldwide – both climate-ready and less prepared – are adapting to rising sea levels, extreme storms, unpredictable currents, and new operational risks.  Yo ..read more

The IMRF's #WomenInSAR initiative aims to enhance the representation, retention, and leadership of women in search and rescue (SAR) operations globally. The recent funding announcement from the Government of Canada for research on female volunteers in SAR closely aligns with this mission, representing a significant advancement towards achieving greater gender equity in the field. The Government of Canada has allocated $72,227 to the University of the Fraser Valley through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) for a two-year study titled ‘Exploring the successes achieved and ..read more

Holly Phillips, the IMRF’s 2024 #WomenInSAR Award winner, spent over two decades at the RNLI, playing a crucial role in the design, construction, repair, and safety of nearly every lifeboat in the organisation’s fleet. Reflecting on her 21 years of service, she describes her career as one filled with opportunities, collaboration, and invaluable lessons that have shaped both her work and who she is today. “It’s a real privilege to be recognised by the IMRF,” Holly said. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked with some fantastic people within the RNLI, as well as engineers and operators from other S ..read more

The IMRF relaunched its #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme last year to connect women mentors with mentees in the maritime search and rescue (SAR) sector. The scheme pairs women already involved in or looking to join maritime SAR with experienced mentors, and the first round was a resounding success. The scheme is an excellent opportunity for mentees to connect with a mentor who can offer insight and advice and for mentors to give something back and refine their skills.  Paired with Christina Sharun from the Canadian Coast Guard, Sinead Sharpe of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) s ..read more