As the International Maritime Rescue Federation turns 100-years-old, the RNLI helped celebrate the occasion with the two organisations coming together at the RNLI Lifeboat Festival at the RNLI College in Poole, Dorset earlier this year.  

Mark Dowie, former Chief Executive Officer at the RNLI and Janet Legrand, RNLI chair met with Caroline Jupe, Chief Executive Officer at the IMRF. Both organisations celebrated milestone birthdays this year, with the RNLI celebrating its 200th in March.

The RNLI played a vital role in the IMRF’s history and on 2 July in 1924, invited representatives from countries with a lifeboat service to attend the first International Lifeboat Conference, which took place in London. This was the first time in history that people from lifeboat organisations across the world came together to discuss the problems they were facing and how to tackle them, as well as how to promote their lifesaving work. Following this meeting, the International Lifeboat Federation was founded which later became the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) in 2007.

The IMRF is the world’s leading non-governmental organisation for the development and improvement of maritime search and rescue (SAR) capacity and operational effectiveness.

Steve Wills, Head of International Programmes at the RNLI said: “We are delighted to mark the IMRF’s 100thanniversary, it is a fantastic milestone that we’re very proud to be part of. As the RNLI celebrated its 200th anniversary this year, it’s great to be able to look back at the huge contributions we’ve made to drowning prevention internationally, including through the IMRF. The RNLI is thrilled to be able to share our lifesaving expertise more widely, working with partners globally and in countries where drowning is a significant problem to raise awareness, conduct research and identify solutions to save more lives.”

Caroline Jupe, Chief Executive Officer of the IMRF said: “Maritime SAR organisations around the world are becoming more interconnected, working closely with one another to provide critical and life-saving skills, training and equipment to ensure that they can provide the assistance they need to people in distress at sea. For 100 years now, the IMRF has been the leading voice of the maritime SAR community, bringing together like-minded organisations to share ideas and exchange opportunities for collaboration to improve capabilities. We want to extend a huge thank you to the RNLI team for allowing the IMRF to be a part of their equally incredible celebrations in what is truly a major year for the maritime SAR industry.”

 

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