By Clay Evans, maritime historian and retired Canadian Coast Guard lifeboat coxswain Over the last 100 years the forum provided by the IMRF has served as an international clearing house for evolving information on maritime SAR innovations and new technologies developed by its member organisations. A prime example of the value of sharing information in an open format is the introduction and development of inflatable rescue craft. The concept of a “rubber boat” was not new in the 20th Century. In fact, two submissions for the Duke of Northumberland’s Life-boat Design Competition in 1851 included ..read more

The IMRF's #FutureSAR initiative identifies the key challenges the global maritime search and rescue (SAR) industry will face due to climate change. It proposes guidance and best practices to aid rescue operations in the future. As part of this, we spoke with Fredrik Falkman, Head of Innovation at the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS). Fredrik pointed out that climate change will have diverse impacts on the environment in the various regions where SAR operators are active. He emphasised that the overall perception of SAR organisations will likely change unless substantial actions are taken to ..read more

After more than 30 years of leading the Maritime Safety and Survival Training Centre (MSSTC) at Icelandic Search and Rescue (ICE-SAR), Captain Hilmar Snorrason is set to hand over the reins to the next generation of SAR professionals. However, his incredible tenure and life experience in the maritime SAR sector have left him with a deep understanding and respect for the daily struggles of seafarers and fishermen. During his tenure at the Icelandic State Shipping Company as a Deck Officer, he operated regular services around the coast of Iceland. Like other Icelandic seafarers and fishermen, he ..read more

YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCGq2xfgIPQ YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZOPLfxn6iU YouTube Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnHbWpbt84M ..read more

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) released its #FutureSAR Report as part of the organisation’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the impacts and effects of climate change on global maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations. You can access the full report here.  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 f ..read more

Members of the maritime SAR community gathered on 27 March for the IMRF’s latest #FutureSAR webinar, which was held to celebrate the launch of the IMRF’s #FutureSAR report entitled ‘Tides of Change: Adaptive Strategies for Maritime SAR in a Changing Climate’. Click here to access the full report and Executive Summary, as well as to learn more about the IMRF’s #FutureSAR initiative. The webinar was chaired by Jaakko Heikkilä, IMRF’s International Programme Manager, who highlighted the impact of climate change on the world’s ecosystems and oceans as well as on human health and socio-economic sys ..read more

The IMRF is set to launch a global panel that will focus on the maritime aviation search and rescue (SAR) sector as the organisation looks to expand its involvement in new and developing areas of the SAR industry. In its 100 years as a non-governmental organisation, the IMRF has focused almost exclusively on the use of boats and vessels in maritime SAR operations. However, with the extensive use of aviation in modern SAR operations globally, the IMRF believes now is the time for it to expand its knowledge and expertise into this increasingly important sector. “The IMRF has played a significant ..read more

The IMRF's #FutureSAR initiative identifies the key challenges the global maritime search and rescue (SAR) industry will face due to climate change. It proposes guidance and best practices to aid rescue operations in the future. As part of this, we spoke with Berit Letting, Head of Section for New Builds at the Norwegian Sea Rescue Society in Norway. Berit emphasised that the current technology for first responders is not yet at an optimal level. She encouraged SAR organisations to assess their capabilities and areas of operation to combat climate change actively. In Norway, Berit noted that w ..read more

Last year’s winner of the IMRF’s #WomenInSAR Award, Amber Sheasgreen, Operations Manager at the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR), noted that there is already a number of remarkable women in the maritime SAR sector and that, by supporting each other and collaborating together effectively, they can inspire others to envision themselves in similar roles.  Amber grew up around water and has always been interested in boats and the marine environment. As a young adult, she witnessed a couple of tragedies on the water in her community, which was a source of inspiration to join he ..read more

In a pivotal and empowering panel discussion at last year’s World Maritime Rescue Congress (WMRC) in the Netherlands, led by Cia Sjöstedt, IMRF Trustee and CEO of the Swedish Sea Rescue Society (SSRS), the focus was squarely on pivotal role of women in maritime search and rescue (SAR) operations.   In its role as a non-governmental organisation, the IMRF has long showcased its unwavering commitment to fostering gender diversity and equality within the maritime SAR community. In 2024, the IMRF is set to launch a number of events and activities to continue its push to provide women with uni ..read more