At a recent conference run by the International Maritime Rescue Federation, Dr Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry, President, World Maritime University, said in her keynote speech that more needed be done to emphasize the importance of maritime mass rescue operation planning, in order to identify and meet gaps in search and rescue (SAR) response capability.
Speaking at the opening of the 4th International Maritime Mass Rescue Conference in Gothenburg last week, Doumbia-Henry noted that learning from experience and exchanging views was essential and that recent experience in the Mediterranean had highlighted the need for mass rescue capability and preparedness.
Doumbia-Henry also said that increasing vessel traffic in Arctic waters highlighted the need to consider current inadequate SAR resources for such a challenging environment, while the need for all levels of SAR capability in the developing world continues to outpace resources.