MIRG Seminar 2016 Mass Rescue Operations David Jardine-Smith International Maritime Rescue Federation
The International Maritime Rescue Federation
Our purpose The IMRF brings the world's maritime SAR organisations together in one growing family Working together to improve global SAR Sharing ideas, technologies and experience Representing the world s maritime SAR community in the common humanitarian aim of preventing loss of life in the world's waters
Our members Any organisation worldwide involved in, developing, or associated with maritime SAR Our members may be large or small organisations newly-formed or long-established charities, private or public agencies supporting organisations and industry
Our current projects o o o o o o o o Global SAR development projects Regional & bilateral projects Mixed Migrant Safety Rescue Boat Guidelines Water Safety Education Lifeboat Crew Exchange Mass Rescue Operations Maritime Incident Response Groups
IMRF s MIRG Project imrfmirg.org
The IMRF website For links to our project sites, the IMRF Bookshop, IMO documents, news, information, sponsorship and membership enquiries, please visit: www.international-maritime-rescue.org
Incident types Catastrophic Complex Routine
Mass rescue: IMO s definitions Rescue is the operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety A mass rescue operation (MRO) is characterised by the need for immediate response to large numbers of persons in distress such that the capabilities normally available to the SAR authorities are inadequate
It is worth taking action in advance to deal with disasters. The costs of doing so are typically inconsequential, measured against the losses that would ensue if no such action were taken. The magnitude of disasters decreases to the extent that people believe that they are possible, and plan to prevent them or to minimise their effects. Kenneth Watt, The Titanic Effect
Mass rescue operations Low probability high consequence Plan to fill the capability gap
Mass rescue operations Support Escape Evacuation Rescue
The IMRF s MRO project Raising awareness, providing focus and a forum for discussion the Gothenburg series of conferences MRO workshops to encourage local and regional discussion and preparedness Identifying problems and potential solutions subject-matter experts incident, exercise, workshop & conference results Sharing project results workshops, seminars & conferences a dynamic online MRO reference library, freely available at www.imrfmro.org Amending international regulation and guidance continuing to work on this subject at the IMO
MRO subject areas Mass rescue / complex incident planning Mass rescue resources including regional cooperation, and funding Recognising the incident On-board / on-scene support Use of additional facilities Communications priorities, systems, structures The SAR Mission Coordinator, On Scene Coordinator & Aircraft Coordinator roles Use of surface units Use of air units Coordination with shoreside authorities Retrieval recovery of people from survival craft, the water, etc Accounting for people, including searches Supporting survivors during rescue Transfer to the place of safety Areas remote from SAR facilities and other special cases Learning from others experience including survivors Learning from our own experience Training & exercising Philosophy & focus
Planning and training MROs are rare, varied, and beyond the routine : they should be specifically planned & trained for Plans should be owned by as many stakeholders as possible Plans should be maintained Training is required Plans and training should be tested Lessons should be learned, built back into the plan and the training, and shared
Filling the capability gap Agree to share SAR resources regionally, and plan for how this should be done Identify additional SAR resource locally, including shipping in the area Extend survival time by providing support on scene until those in distress can be rescued
Communication Good communications are vital before and after as well as during an MRO Internal comms with the usual team, plus major incident responders External comms with our usual partner responders, plus strangers With the news media With people affected (families, etc) With the people being rescued!
Communication Who do you call? Who will call you? Do you both speak the same language? Do you both understand maritime and SAR terminology? Communication means the successful exchange of information
The IMRF s MRO library Five main subject areas: philosophy & focus planning resources command, control, coordination & communications training, exercises & learning lessons www.imrfmro.org
The IMRF s MRO library Resources include advice on: planning for mass rescue operations a mass rescue plan template identifying additional SAR facilities sharing SAR facilities regionally providing on-board support response coordination communications planning best use of available facilities search, rescue and/or support identifying places of safety www.imrfmro.org
The IMRF s MRO guidance Freely available online Also available as a pdf e-book Will be kept up to date www.imrfmro.org
Mass rescue Mass rescue operations: things to think about because it s not if but when
Gothenburg, 11-13 June 2017 Live exercise Shared experiences and solutions MRO subject-matter expert course, 14-16 June 2017 www.imrfmro.org/homeg4
Thank you for more information, visit www.imrfmro.org or email info@imrf.org.uk