International Maritime Rescue Federation
2018 Activity Report Developing maritime SAR across Africa Preventing loss of life in the world’s waters
Captain Udo Fox IMRF Trustee & Chairman “The IMRF has been working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 2012, to support key states in Africa, helping them to develop a well-functioning SAR coordination capability. The rapid demographic growth across the African continent, means that more and more people are at risk of drowning and consequently, there’s a greater and greater need for improved maritime rescue capacities and capabilities. “On a more local level, the IMRF has worked with maritime administrations to identify development needs and then to provide specialist programmes of training, knowledge-sharing and international networking, complementing the other IMO-funded initiatives. Our programme across Africa is focused on increasing SAR knowledge and capability and responding to locallyidentified training needs.” Udo is a Master Mariner and a Master of Business Administration. He has been Executive Director of the German Maritime SAR Service (DGzRS) since 2001, and before that Chief of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre at Bremen. He has done much work at, and on behalf of, the IMO and the EU, and has lectured at the World Maritime University.
Theresa Crossley IMRF Chief Executive Officer ”Over the last seven years, the IMRF’s work to improve SAR capability across the continent has delivered a significant improvement in skills in a number of regions, and, as a consequence, has helped reduce the risk to life in maritime SAR operations there. “However, we are certainly not complacent - there is still much more that could be done - and our work sharing search and rescue knowledge and expertise between individuals, organisations and countries around the world is a vital part of raising and maintaining standards in a dynamically changing operational environment. "We are very grateful to our partners and supporters, who enable us to contribute to the improvement of maritime SAR capability in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Their valuable support helps IMRF to meet the gap in SAR provision, improving safety and security for water users and helping to save lives at sea. ” Theresa was appointed CEO of the IMRF in October 2017. Theresa has a long association with the maritime sector. She was the Head of Shipping Policy (and Chair of the UK Search and Rescue Strategic Policy Committee) in the UK Department for Transport for six years and was for five years a Deputy Director of the European Maritime Safety Agency based in Lisbon, Portugal.
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I N T E R N AT I O N A L
MARITIME RESCUE FEDER ATION
About us
Our work
The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is the international non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to develop and improve maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity around the world, preventing loss of life in the world’s waters.
The IMRF:
The IMRF brings together the world's maritime search and rescue (SAR) organisations and has both voluntary and governmental organisations as members. As well as capacity building, the IMRF also has an advocacy role, providing an international voice for its members. It is the only maritime SAR NGO in consultative status at the United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO).
320,000 LIVES LOST every year in the
world’s waters
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• facilitates cooperation and the exchange of • • •
information, research and development, advice and consultancy between maritime SAR services around the world encourages and supports the formation and development of new maritime SAR services provides training in maritime SAR operational skills, including those required for a Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) and, promotes public education and raises awareness of the importance of safety on the water.
The latest World Health Organization (WHO)1 Global Health Estimates show that 320,000 people drown every year. That means that roughly 36 people around the world drown every hour. Although the WHO figures do not include all the lives lost in the world’s waters, drowning is still the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injuryrelated deaths. Previous WHO reports2 have stated that Africa and AsiaPacific account for almost 90% of drowning deaths with drowning death rates being the highest in the WHO Africa Region - 20x higher than in the United Kingdom. The IMRF’s own research has found that 93% of ferry accidents and 97% of associated fatalities occur in developing countries. Many of these deaths could be prevented by improved maritime SAR services, which is why the work of the IMRF is so important.
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World Health Organization Global Health Estimates 2016 https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/drowning/en/ World Health Organization Global Report on Drowning 2014 World Health Organization Fact Sheet https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drowning)
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“I am very glad and thankful to the IMRF and IMO for the opportunities provided to the NW African SAR personnel in the process of acquiring knowledge in this complex field, where efficiency and timely response are paramount for saving lives at sea – our global common goal.
The event held in Rabat, Morocco, in December last year gave us the chance to update some relevant information about which trainers to train, which contributes to the capacity building at regional level, and I, myself, feel very enthusiastic and ready to give my contribution, wherever it is deemed to be necessary, as a SAR trainer.”
Sea Captain, Antonio Duarte Monteiro National SAR Committee, Cape Verde
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Our work in Africa Africa is a continent of great cultural diversity and very different levels of economic development. In some parts of Africa it is hard to find any organised rescue capability at all, while in other more developed regions, there may be reasonable or at least adequate emergency response capabilities. The IMRF has been working with the United Nations body – the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 2012, to support key states in Africa, helping them to develop a wellfunctioning SAR coordination capability. This reflects the approach agreed at the IMO’s October 2000 Regional Conference in Florence, Italy, known as ‘The Florence Plan’. The IMRF works with existing Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres (MRCCs), Maritime Rescue Sub Centres (MRSCs) and maritime administrations across the region to identify development needs and then to provide specialist programmes of training, knowledge-sharing and international and regional networking, all based on internationally-recognised best practice as set out in the IAMSAR (International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue) Manuals.
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Training is delivered by experts in the various SAR specialisms in the IAMSAR Manuals, including trainers local to the five IMO-designated Africa SAR Regions, who have received training through the IMRF’s programme.
From 2012–2017, the IMRF has:
• run 31 specialist maritime SAR courses, training 384 participants across Africa • delivered the first ‘train the trainer’ programme • • • •
on Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), in partnership with Inmarsat organised six regional meetings to encourage knowledge sharing, best practice and networking helped to raise standards, increasing SAR knowledge and capability resulting in a more professional response to maritime incidents and improved reporting worked to improve strategic and operational communication between SAR organisations across the region raised the international profile of SAR preparedness in Africa.
“I had the privilege of participating in the SAR training organised by the IMRF in collaboration with the IMO. The training offered a lot of insight in managing and coordinating search and rescue activities which is an integral part of the maritime sector. I was the only woman out of eleven participating countries and I believe this is in furtherance to addressing fairness, equality and inclusion in the maritime sector.”
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Magdalene Ofori Addai Senior Maritime Admin Officer, Ghana Maritime Authority
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“The Ministry of Works and Transport wishes to extend our sincere appreciation to IMO for the invitation to attend the regional meeting, SAR training and workshop on Maritime SAR jointly organised by the IMO and IMRF and the Kenyan Maritime Authority in Mombasa, Kenya. We believe this will help us to build the requisite capacity to effectively manage the SAR system in the country.
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“We express our honest gratitude to IMO and the IMRF and to express our willingness to participate in all forthcoming programs organized by the IMRF, as we strive to build our national capacity to ably execute the maritime SAR functions.”
Benon M Kajuna Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda
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Our achievements in 2018 Over the last year, the IMRF has delivered 12 SAR training courses across Africa and facilitated three regional SAR meetings in Morocco and in Kenya, enabling expert knowledge and best practice to be shared and leading to the enhanced development of Government-led regional maritime SAR plans. Our activities have expanded to encompass Eastern Africa, and for the first time our SAR work now reaches and covers all five of the IMO identified SAR regions. One of the biggest challenges encountered by the IMRF across the region, has been collecting data to establish a consistent and documented baseline of maritime SAR capability. The IMRF has been working with the IMO to fill the remaining information gaps to allow for improved comparisons across the region and the opportunity to press for a more coordinated approach.
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In 2018, the IMRF has:
• delivered 12 regional SAR training courses across Africa to over 160 delegates • facilitated three Africa SAR regional development meetings • contributed towards a World Bank research project to improve SAR capability around Lake Tanganyika conducted a SAR assessment survey for Africa on behalf • of the IMO • helped to establish an operational MRCC (maritime rescue coordination centre) in Guinea Bissau • worked to ensure that maritime SAR capabilities across Africa continue to grow and strengthen • improved strategic, operational communication between SAR organisations across Africa.
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We have also:
Advocacy and advice
• presented details of our SAR capacity building
As the international voice of maritime SAR, the IMRF plays a significant role in the development of international maritime SAR regulation and policy. Over the last year, we have:
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work to the IMO’s Technical Co-operation Committee launched the IMRF's Basic Rescue Boat Operators Manual, endorsed by Kitack Lim, Secretary General of the IMO. The manual provides information on essential skills, knowledge and guidance for SAR organisations with limited access to equipment. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with The Nautical Institute to work together on projects to improve safety at sea.
• contributed to the IMO’s Sub-Committee on • • •
Safety of Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), particularly the SAR Working Group delivered a presentation about the IMRF’s capacity building work around the world to the IMO’s Maritime Safety and Technical Cooperation Committees actively represented the IMRF at the annual meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/IMO Joint Working Group on SAR advised and contributed to IMO’s technical cooperation and development work in SAR, particularly in Africa.
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Looking ahead The IMRF has a full programme of specialist training and regional meetings planned for delivery across Africa. Our programme will continue to evolve to respond to specific country and regional needs, for example to cover new skills requirements as SAR capabilities develop in particular counties or regions. We are confident that the IMRF’s work to improve SAR capability and resources across the region will continue to make a positive impact and will deliver a significant improvement in skills, which ultimately will result in more lives being saved.
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“We have managed to build momentum by arranging regular training and regional meetings. There is now a pool of well-trained SAR coordinators and managers in the majority of the countries’ Rescue Coordination Centres (RCC) across the region. “The goal has always been to help each of the countries develop their own RCC capability, so that less time is lost and more lives can be saved when accidents occur at sea. We have also developed trainers within the region so we are less reliant on external trainers, but we could still be doing more.”
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Mohammed Drissi IMRF Africa Regional Coordinator and IMRF Trustee, Morocco
Mohammed Drissi is Head of the SAR Bureau at the Ocean Fisheries Ministry, Morocco and was recently appointed Maritime Ambassador of the Royal Kingdom of Morocco to the International Maritime Organization.
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Supporting the IMRF’s work in Africa The IMRF’s work across Africa would not be possible without the generous support of its funders. Our grateful thanks go to the International Maritime Organization, national governments including Germany and the Kingdom of Morocco, IMRF SAR partners including the RNLI, DGzRS (German Maritime SAR Service) and the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue and a wide range of trusts, foundations and corporate donations. The IMRF’s life-saving work in Africa depends entirely on the generous support of its partners, benefactors, and members. If you would like to discuss supporting our work please contact Caroline Jupe on c.jupe@imrf.org.uk or +44 (0)1569 767405.
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Membership The IMRF now has 11 maritime SAR member organisations in Africa, located in Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
Europe
Middle East/Asia-Pacific
Belgium (1) Bulgaria (1) Croatia (1) Denmark (2) Estonia (4) Finland (4) France (3) Germany (7) Greece (1) Iceland (1) Ireland (3) Italy (3) Latvia (1) Malta (4) Norway (3) Poland (1) Portugal (1) Russia (2) Spain (2) Sweden (5) Switzerland (1) The Netherlands (2) Turkey (1) United Kingdom (7)
Australia (3) Bangladesh (1) China (7) India (1) Malaysia (2) New Zealand (3) Sri Lanka (1) United Arab Emirates (2)
Globally, the IMRF now has 110 member organisations based in 51 countries all around the world. IMRF member organisations may be large or small, newly-formed or long established, charities, private or public agencies, or supporting organisations and industries.
Join us…. We offer three categories of membership: Full Membership – for Rescue Coordination Centres, lifeboat operators and any organisations involved in operational maritime SAR who have been authorised by the appropriate authority. Affiliate Membership – for organisations intending to establish an operational maritime search and/or rescue service in the future, or those whose prime purpose is the promotion of water safety. Subsidiaries of full member organisations can also join as Affiliate Members. Associate Membership – Associate Membership– for companies, service providers and manufacturers with an interest in the provision of maritime SAR, or the promotion of water safety (e.g. commercial maritime SAR equipment providers and educational establishments). For more information, please visit www.internationalmaritimerescue.org or contact us on info@imrf.org.uk or +44 (0)1569 767405.
Americas Antigua (1) Brazil (3) British Virgin Islands (1) Canada (4) Chile (1) Curaçao (Caribbean) (1) Sint Maarten (Caribbean) (1) United States (3) Uruguay (2) Venezuela (1)
Africa Cape Verde (1) Côte d’Ivoire (1) Ghana (1) Kenya (1) Liberia (1) Morocco (1) Seychelles (1) South Africa (2) Tanzania (1) Uganda (1)
Benefits of IMRF Membership
• participate in expert panels, specialist SAR groups and ‘skill-shares’ • attend the IMRF Annual Meeting in your region • access the IMRF website for free advice and expertise • share best practice and advice between fellow members and expert personnel • contribute towards the IMRF’s work at the • • •
IMO and with other regulatory bodies, representing industry expertise and concerns receive LIFE LINE, the quarterly newsletter packed with maritime SAR news enjoy discounts on selected IMRF Events and Conferences enjoy a 20% discount in the IMRF Bookshop, on IMO and other publications.
www.international-maritime-rescue.org International Maritime Rescue Federation, 50 Allardice Street, Stonehaven AB39 2RA, UK.
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
MARITIME RESCUE FEDER ATION
The International Maritime Rescue Federation is a registered company limited by guarantee in the United Kingdom and registered as a charity in England and Wales. Charity Registration Number: 1100883 Company Registration Number: 4852596.