IMRF secures funding for next phase of #FutureSAR to enhance climate resilience in global SAR operations

IMRF has announced phase two of its #FutureSAR project, Harnessing Tides of Change, supported by funding from Lloyd’s Register Foundation. This collaborative grant with Climate Adaptation Works will support the project over the next year, enabling the IMRF to continue its important work in enhancing the climate resilience and safety of the global maritime search and rescue (SAR) community.

The new funding will allow the IMRF to develop practical tools and strategies that SAR organisations can use to prepare for climate-induced challenges, including more frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels.

Key activities in this phase will include a global survey of SAR practitioners, the development of an Impact Response Card Template for assessing climate readiness, and a workshop to validate the findings. These initiatives will help SAR organisations operate safely and effectively under evolving environmental conditions.

With Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s support, the project aims to continue to foster collaboration across the global SAR community, bringing together expertise from both the global north and south. By integrating climate resilience into maritime safety practices, #FutureSAR will provide a much-needed framework for SAR organisations to enhance their preparedness and operational effectiveness in the face of climate change.

IMRF CEO Caroline Jupe said, “Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the maritime SAR community. Thanks to the generous support of the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, we are excited to take #FutureSAR to the next level and deliver the tools and knowledge that SAR organisations need to continue saving lives under increasingly difficult conditions.”

“With the #FutureSAR project now moving into its second phase, the IMRF remains at the forefront of developing innovative solutions to safeguard lives at sea in an era of rapidly changing environmental conditions. We are proud to continue supporting this critical campaign which aligns strongly with our mission of securing appropriate technical, operational and performance responses to climate change that enhance safety of life and property at sea,” said Jan Przydatek, Director of Technologies at Lloyd’s Register Foundation. 

The first phase of the project culminated in the IMRF #FutureSAR report “Tides of Change”, which is available for download here. The report focuses on SAR adaptations to climate change, identifies 85 climate change impacts on SAR services, and provides 303 checklist items for organisations to assess. An Executive Summary and a downloadable Excel file of the checklist items accompany the report.

The IMRF's #FutureSAR initiative identifies the key challenges the global maritime SAR industry will face as a result of climate change and proposes guidance and best practices that will aid rescue operations in the future. The initiative is the world’s first SAR industry-wide response to the effects of climate change on the maritime SAR sector as coastal communities, maritime activity and the infrastructure that they depend on are exposed to increasing risks. 

Click here to find out more: https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/futuresar