Understanding the capacity and equipment gaps between the world’s search-and-rescue (SAR) organisations from those that are highly resourced and those that regularly face funding challenges for effective equipment is an ongoing challenge facing the maritime SAR community.

By bringing together like-minded SAR organisations through the IMRF’s mission to build greater cooperation between the SAR ecosystem, SAR organisations are collaborating together to fill those gaps like never before. 

As part of its commitment to supporting less resourced SAR organisations around the world and giving its long-serving vessels a new lease of life, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) regularly sells its retired and decommissioned assets to other countries, with the IMRF supporting initiatives like this. To date the 2 organisations have helped facilitate lifeboats to other SAR organisations in Europe, Africa and South America.

In its latest move to support the wider maritime SAR community, the RNLI is looking to sell its All-Weather Severn Class lifeboats in order to support the offshore rescue capabilities of other international SAR organisations and strengthen the global SAR system.

Full details of the type of vessels currently being sold can be found below, including vessel specification, engine details, construction elements and maximum speed.

Through the IMRF’s work to foster greater collaboration between its members and strengthen the global SAR community, the RNLI is offering a discount to members of the IMRF, as well as a  training package as part of the sale. If your organisation is interested in buying a boat and accessing this training package as part of the sale, but is not a member of the IMRF you can join here. Please note the IMRF and RNLI will check that each organisation who says they are an IMRF member are.

For further details or to arrange a viewing, please contact the RNLI Asset Sales Manager by telephone (+44 (0)1202 663442) or email [email protected].

The IMRF is proud to showcase how its members, in collaboration with the IMRF, are plugging vital capability gaps around the world by routinely sharing their skills, knowledge and assets with each other. Collaboration is key in today’s modern maritime SAR sector and programmes like these are vital to help reduce this capacity gap.