The IMRF, working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), convened global experts in Geneva for a high level tabletop exercise on the growing challenges facing maritime search and rescue (SAR) during armed conflict.

Held at the ICRC Humanitarium on 13 February 2026, the exercise formed part of a wider effort to strengthen the protection of people at sea and to better understand how maritime SAR operations can continue in complex and contested environments.

Maritime SAR is grounded in a clear humanitarian duty to save lives. The tabletop exercise examined how armed conflict can create significant pressures on maritime SAR systems, personnel and infrastructure. Degraded communications, contested operating environments and the presence of both civilian and military assets can make coordination more difficult. When operations are delayed, disrupted or misidentified, the consequences can be immediate, both in terms of lives lost and the longer term willingness of mariners to assist those in distress. For the IMRF, addressing these challenges is central to ensuring that those responding at sea can continue to save lives, even in the most difficult conditions.

The exercise was built around three scenarios. The first looked at a State responding to multiple distress alerts in a conflict zone, where communications were unreliable and both civilian and military survivors were likely to be present. Discussions focused on coordination between civilian and military units, the risks of misidentification, and the balance between crew safety and the need to save lives.

The second scenario explored the role of a neutral State responding to repeated incidents in a busy shipping route. Participants considered how to maintain neutrality while providing assistance, how to prioritise limited resources, and how emerging technologies, including drones, can support SAR while avoiding the perception of providing military advantage.

The third scenario focused on commercial and privately operated vessels, which remain a vital part of the global SAR system. Participants examined the risks faced by crews operating near hostilities, including challenges around coordination, crew safety, and the handling of rescued military personnel when intercepted by naval forces.

Across all scenarios, several consistent themes emerged. Participants stressed the importance of maintaining the humanitarian character of SAR operations, even where military assets are involved. Clear identification of SAR units, whether visual or electronic, was seen as critical to reducing the risk of misidentification or attack, particularly in low visibility or high threat conditions. Ensuring that SAR personnel and assets are recognised and protected remains a key priority for IMRF and its global network.

There was also a strong focus on communications. With systems such as the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System at risk of disruption in conflict, the need for resilient alternatives and clearer coordination arrangements was highlighted. The challenge of neutrality was another key issue, particularly where SAR services include both civilian and military elements, or where technology may inadvertently reveal sensitive information.

The discussions also reinforced the continued reliance on commercial shipping and independent vessels to assist those in distress. While this remains a cornerstone of maritime SAR, there is growing concern about the risks faced by crews operating close to active hostilities, and the need for clearer guidance and protection.

The tabletop discussions and the panel session held during the week will now be taken forward into wider international work. The outcomes will directly inform the ongoing update of the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, where IMRF is participating as an observer. The next meeting in this process is scheduled for September.

In addition, the IMRF and the ICRC will produce a joint publication capturing the key findings, practical recommendations and lessons identified during the tabletop exercise. This publication will set out practical steps to support maritime SAR organisations, States and other stakeholders, and will be made available later this year.

For IMRF, this work is central to its support and strengthening maritime SAR worldwide. By bringing together operational, legal and policy expertise, the organisation is helping to ensure that those responding at sea are better prepared, better protected, and able to continue saving lives, even in the most challenging conditions. Across this work, the IMRF and the global maritime SAR community remain united by one purpose: to save lives at sea.

The recording of the panel discussion that took place on 12 February is now available to watch.