The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has announced the dates of its 4th International Maritime Mass Rescue Conference, addressing means of improving emergency response for mass rescue at sea.
IMRF noted that more than 400,000 people a year lose their lives in the world’s waters (World Health Organisation Report on Drowning, 2014), and that many of these deaths could be prevented through safety interventions and improved maritime search and rescue coordination and response.
The conference will take place from June 11th to June 13th 2017 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and will include a live mass rescue exercise for all those attending.
Although the loss of lives of migrants in the Mediterranean hits the headlines. IMRF noted that this year also marks the 30th anniversaries of the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster and the Dona Paz collision in the Philippines – the worst loss of life in a peacetime shipping disaster ever.
IMRF chief executive Bruce Reid said that “any major incident severely tests the capabilities of the responding emergency services; even more so when the rescue or relief efforts involve operations on the water. This conference is unique in that it brings together experts and professionals with real-life experience of maritime mass rescue operations to share vital knowledge, discuss best practice and develop guidelines for anyone or any organisation involved in this vital work, saving lives.”
The Conference is being hosted by Gothenburg-based Swedish Sea Rescue Society. http://www.imrfmro.org/homeg4