This year commemorates 40 years of IMRF’s (non-governmental) consultative status at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a relationship that originated when the IMRF was known as the International Lifeboat Federation (ILF). Over time, the IMRF’s voice has played a pivotal role at the highest levels of global maritime regulation, influencing the development of search and rescue (SAR) policies worldwide.

David Jardine-Smith, who represented the IMRF at the IMO from 2011 until his retirement in 2019, highlights the importance of this presence.

“To an average lifeboat crew member, the complex negotiations at IMO may seem distant from actual SAR operations, but the IMO is the key international body responsible for major agreements underpinning global SAR, including the Maritime SAR Convention and the IAMSAR Manual. When SAR principles must be defended, the IMO is a crucial platform for that advocacy.”

The IMRF has gained recognition for presenting ‘pure’ SAR arguments, untainted by national political considerations, in IMO discussions.

“The Member States are the key players at IMO,” says David, “but they are naturally bound by national priorities and policies. The IMRF is not, and having a good reputation at IMO, their voice is listened to.”

From early efforts in mass rescue operations to shaping amendments for the IAMSAR Manual, the IMRF has closely collaborated with the IMO’s subcommittees and the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on SAR.

Over the years, this partnership has kept its guidance in lockstep with international conventions, not by accident, but through careful work.

Michael Vlasto, former Chair of the IMRF Board, recalls: “The ILF was the first organisation with consultative status at the IMO to receive the prestigious International Maritime Prize in 1998. This honour, awarded by then Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos, highlighted the IMO's recognition of the IMRF’s contribution to global SAR.”

Michael first represented the ILF at IMO meetings in the early 1990s, a period when the RNLI was providing the ILF Secretariat. He recalls that the shift from ILF to IMRF under CEO Gerry Keeling was “a pivotal moment in strengthening the IMRF’s independent voice at the IMO."

Although the IMRF’s role at the IMO has proven valuable, future challenges are expected, especially with the rise of remotely operated and autonomous ships. Roly McKie, the current IMO Representative and SAR Advisor for the IMRF, warns of the potential implications.

“As the number of remotely operated and autonomous ships in the global fleet increases, there will be impacts on the maritime SAR system worldwide. Currently, there is no explicit language in the relevant draft code for such ships to have rescue capabilities. The IMRF will push for this issue again at the next Maritime Safety Committee in 2026.”

Roly also highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in SAR coordination and operations. He notes that AI could be a “game changer” for quick and precise decision-making, but only if human operators stay well-trained to identify errors.

“There may come a time when the only people at sea are fishing crews, passengers, and leisure sailors. So, what is next for the global SAR system? It will always be needed, though there will be shifts in thinking, techniques, technology, and processes”, Roly concludes.