The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has launched a new initiative to enable global search and rescue (SAR) organisations to better collect, analyse and share maritime SAR incident response data.
The scheme, using the #SaferSAR hashtag, is being funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and will include a 12-month feasibility study to explore the potential development of a globally accessible platform for sharing of lessons and best practices identified in SAR response, incidents, accidents and exercises.
“All leading marine accident investigation branches, like the United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) or Germany’s Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation (BSU), as well as SAR organisations and government bodies, analyse and publish reports on maritime incidents and lessons learnt,” said Caroline Jupe, Chief Executive Officer of the IMRF.
“However, there is no global system that collates this SAR data, analyses it for trends, patterns, or particular safety concerns and then disseminates these findings more widely.”
“While SAR delivery ranges from country to country and organisation to organisation, at its core the principle remains the same: saving lives and rescuing people in distress in the world’s waters. By sharing data and experiences more effectively, global SAR organisations can develop greater understanding and safer operations to drive that principle. This way the global community can also assist organisations that do not yet have the adequate resources to collect such information themselves, by providing information on identified safety risks.”
The IMRF says it will work closely with a range of industry stakeholders and SAR organisations during the study, including its own membership of more than 120 SAR organisations, governmental and non-governmental bodies, and service providers from over 50 countries.
