Governments, Industry, and NGOs unite to Advance Maritime Search and Rescue.
By Matthew Mitchell, Founder and CEO, International Association of Search and Rescue Coordinators (IASARC)
Even in regions blessed by exceptional resources, fewer than 20% of maritime incidents involving people inadvertently entering the sea are actually saved. That number drops significantly when modern communications, lifesaving appliances, and response resources are limited or unavailable.
The team of the International Association of Search and Rescue Coordinators (IASARC) had the opportunity to present at the 2025 Maritime Search and Rescue Conference in Southampton, UK—a fitting location for such an event, as it is also where the RMS Titanic set sail on her maiden voyage. The event drew more than 450 attendees from 40 countries and included over 70 companies, ranging from technology leaders like Techno-Sciences to search and rescue aviation services, such as Bristow Group.
Matthew Mitchell, Founder and CEO of IASARC, is presenting on the psychological aspects of making life-or-death decisions.
IASARC’s contributions to the conference included a presentation on the psychological aspects of decision-making in search and rescue coordination, as well as representatives sitting on an expert panel focused on the future of search and rescue, alongside the Maritime SAR Council and His Majesty’s Coastguard.
From left to right: Matthew Schanck of the Maritime SAR Council, Brian Johnson CBE, (Former) Chief Executive Officer at Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Matthew Mitchell, Founder and CEO of IASARC, and Pete Lowson, Offshore Energy Lead HMCG.
The event drew some of the world’s most influential non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and charitable search and rescue organizations, including the International Maritime Rescue Federation, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Global SAR Hub, and SOS Mediterranee. There is no field or enterprise where one can find as many individual volunteers and NGOs working tirelessly and giving of themselves freely to help save lives, like in search and rescue.
In times such as these, with significant geopolitical uncertainties, resources for the lifesaving missions can often be scarce. While governments focus increasingly on security, it is up to industry, NGOs, and individuals to support lifesaving efforts globally. Lives are lost every day, tragedies that could be avoided with improved coordination and resourcing. Please consider joining this effort to support your local search and rescue teams or global-focused organizations like IASARC.
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