Mass rescue operations

There were 26 participants from around the world – from Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and the UK.

The course considered, in some depth, issues common to such events – especially how to fill the SAR ‘capability gap’ implicit in the International Maritime Organization’s definition of an MRO, which is “characterised by the need for immediate response to large numbers of persons in distress, such that the capabilities normally available to the search and rescue authorities are inadequate”.

Participants discussed details of such operations and their coordination, the need for effective communications in what are complex and stressful circumstances, and the necessary training and testing regimes.

The course is intended for people who have, or will soon have, complex incident planning responsibilities,” said David Jardine-Smith, the IMRF’s MRO Project manager. “However well-resourced you are, there will be some incidents that are simply too big to be dealt with by an ‘ordinary’ SAR response. MROs are usually very rare – which adds to the difficulty of preparing for them – but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be planned for. The reverse is true. Response organisations need to think through the issues, discuss them with fellow stakeholders, and find ways of filling that capability gap. They have to be prepared to be unprepared, to expect the unexpected!”

The IMRF’s course uses breakout sessions during which the participants discuss the various issues in small, mixed groups, and then report back. “Hearing from SAR colleagues from around the world is a very useful way of examining your own understanding of the problems,” says David.

Captain Asuako-Owiredu William Kweku, Deputy Director in charge of SAR at the Ghana Maritime Authority, also noted the open and frank discussions. “Listening to different opinions on the issues afforded us an insight, and general conclusions were agreed on at the end of every discussion.” All SAR professionals, said William, must endeavour to acquire knowledge of MROs and how best to conduct them.

The Gothenburg course was not all classroom work, however. IMRF Members the Swedish Sea Rescue Society hosted the participants aboard two of their rescue cruisers and at their headquarters one evening.

By Jake Frith