Maritime search‑and‑rescue (SAR) organisations are facing a variety of complex operational challenges and opportunities driven by changing internal and external conditions.

However, while challenges remain multifaceted, ranging from climate-change pressures to limited funding and volunteers to technological and societal changes, understanding how SAR organisations are managing these risks from a regional perspective is becoming increasingly important.

The IMRF’s Global Maritime SAR System Review, which was launched in June 2025 in collaboration with Lloyd’s Register Foundation and SeaFocus International, is looking to identify those gaps by gathering insights from regional members and stakeholders to help understand the key challenges and opportunities before bringing strategic recommendations to the wider maritime SAR community.

With the Global Maritime SAR System Review now entering its second phase, the IMRF met with more than 80 SAR experts from across the Americas for two days of collaboration as part of a broader Regional Caribbean Search and Rescue Workshop, hosted by UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The Global Maritime SAR System Review workshop was the first of four regional sessions designed to gather insights from national and regional SAR stakeholders. These contributions will help the IMRF better understand regional expertise and build a more accurate, evidence‑based global picture of maritime SAR capabilities.

“This event was a critical part of the IMRF’s mission to even out SAR capacity and capability around the world, as well as test the findings from the first phase of the review against the real-world experience that SAR professionals are facing every single day,” said Steve Wills, Project Manager at the IMRF and lead of the Global Maritime SAR System Review.

“There is no time to waste. As we all look ahead to the next two decades, it is vital for the IMRF and the wider industry to assess and understand the emerging risks, opportunities and future needs of the SAR sector today. This workshop was an important step to understand the specific challenges faced by SAR organisations in the Americas, and how these may influence and impact global SAR capabilities in the future,” he added.

During the two-day workshop, the IMRF showcased the research and findings from the first phase of its Global Maritime SAR System Review, with an emphasis on insights relevant to the Americas. Structured discussions, group exercises and scenario-based contributions all formed key parts of the workshop, enabling all participants to identify   successful practices, strong co-ordination models, and effective training approaches, while also highlighting persistent gaps in capability, governance, and data.

By speaking directly with front-line professionals and understanding the specific capabilities and limitations of SAR organisations in the Americas, the IMRF is now looking to take those real-world lessons and findings to build a stronger capability framework for the global SAR community, as well as ensuring the wider sector is forward thinking and prepared for future challenges.

“The IMRF’s Global Maritime SAR System Review relies on real-world findings to ensure it is accurate and relevant for our members and the wider sector. By hosting key stakeholders in the Americas and assessing their specific challenges and opportunities, we are now better placed to align our ongoing global analysis with the realities facing regional SAR organisations,” said Steve.

“The IMRF would like to thank all of the participants for joining us and providing their expertise, honesty and commitment to strengthening global SAR. We also want to extend our thanks to Maritime and Coastguard Agency for hosting us and to David Whiddon and James Smyth from the RNLI for their invaluable support during the workshop. Finally, this ongoing project would not be possible without the support of Lloyd’s Register Foundation and SeaFocus International,” he added.

The IMRF will be delivering additional Global Maritime SAR System Review workshops across Europe, Africa, and the Asia‑Pacific in 2026. If you would like to join any of these regional sessions, please contact Steve Wills.