The IMRF headed Down Under in August as it joined forces with Marine Rescue New South Wales (MRNSW) to host its first-ever Regional Seminar in Sydney, Australia.

More than 140 people from around the world travelled to be part of the two-day event, including representatives from search-and-rescue (SAR) organisations, government institutions, and private companies. Crucially, the event was a pivotal opportunity for IMRF members and the wider SAR community to come together to discuss some of the key trends and challenges impacting their operations.

Welcoming participants were Alex Barrell, Commissioner & CEO of MRNSW and IMRF Trustee; Jacob Tas, Chair of the IMRF; Kaylene Dale, CEO of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA); and Caroline Jupe, CEO of the IMRF. All four had the opportunity to speak about the importance of these events to the wider maritime SAR community and the critical role the IMRF plays in bringing people together to identify risks and opportunities for SAR operations.

The first day of the event featured a look at the future of maritime SAR, including the IMRF’s Global SAR System Review and its significance in enhancing member capabilities. Speakers from Germany, Sweden, China and Australia then presented about the activities at their regional SAR organisations, offering participants the opportunity to learn from their peers about techniques and skills that could be applied to their own organisations. The day ended with a speech from Dr Paul Luckin, Medical Advisor to Police Search and Rescue & SAR Training Australia, who spoke about the medical factors affecting survival in water.

The second day continued the discussions of survivability, with a powerful speech from Steph Weisse and Elliott Foote, who spoke about their own survival experience when they were lost at sea in Bali. Participants then had the opportunity to learn about some of the key technologies and initiatives being developed by the private sector, including Suzuki Marine, Raymarine, The Whiskey Project Group, and Australia’s Public Safety Training Group.

This was followed by a session directly hearing about how new technologies were and could affect SAR operations, including research undertaken by Queensland University on the effects of lithium batteries at sea, a focus on electric boats and a look at the integration of alternative fuels into SAR operations.

The day ended with a group discussion on the future challenges and opportunities in maritime SAR, which proved to be an interesting area of discussion.

Several common challenges came up from organisations all over the world. These included recruitment and retention of key personnel, funding challenges, increased weather volatility, technological changes and the strategic direction of the maritime SAR system. Meanwhile, participants spoke fondly of the opportunities the industry has to move forward, including technological advancements and greater collaboration and inclusivity within the broader industry.

When asked what they would take away from the seminar, one of the key messages to come from the two-day event was that, regardless of where the SAR organisation is based in the world, the challenges are essentially the same. This unifying culture is why the role of the IMRF is so important, as it continues to bring together like-minded individuals and organisations to discuss key issues and develop practical training and guidance to navigate these challenges.

We would like to thank everyone who made this event possible, including MRNSW and their incredible team, for their tremendous organisation and hospitality. We’d also like to thank our members for their continued support and fantastic engagement as they continue to harness the power of the IMRF and the wider maritime SAR community to improve their capabilities and save more lives at sea.

Please note: the presentations from the speakers will be available in the members' area in the coming weeks. 

This November, the IMRF will be hosting two key events in the UK: the Safety in SAR Seminar and the Annual Meeting. The Safety in SAR Seminar is open to all, while the Annual Meeting is reserved exclusively for members. If you are not yet a member, you can learn more about membership options here.