What is Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR)?

It is the search for distressed persons and vessels/vehicles, their rescue, and/or their recovery, in the marine environment.

Terms

• ‘Maritime’, here, refers to water-bodies, whether rivers, lakes, seas, or oceans. Artificial water-bodies such as pools shall be considered a specialized case. The term may be considered synonymous with ‘aquatic’, ‘water’, ‘marine’.
• ‘search and rescue’, here, refers to the common sense of the term.

History

Maritime SAR arguable spans as early as humans walked the Earth’s water bodies. Noteworthy events give a picture of the history. This is non-exhaustively visualized in the authors History of Maritime SAR Diagram

• Purchase the diagram at https://tinyurl.com/SAR-History-Diagram
• Donate at https://tinyurl.com/donate-rjr

Modernity

In modern times, maritime SAR is seen in both paid and unpaid paradigms. The latter is arguable more common, particularly in Europe. Military organizatons typically incorproate it as a function or mission. Volunteer (unpaid) organizations may have it as a primary function. Examples include the following.

Organization (sample)	Description
Canadian Coast guard, & RCMSAR	Canada’s paid civil org., and Unpaid (volunteer) org.
USCG	U.S.A. military org. with SAR as one of its functions
USN	U.S.A. Navy (military) with SAR as one of its minor functions
KNRM	Dutch Volunteer Sea Rescue Service
RNLI	United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland volunteer org.
Independent Lifeboats	UK & ROI volunteer org.
Finland Lifeboat Institute	Finland volunteer org.
New Zealand Coast Guard	NZ volunteer org.
MRNSW	Australia volunteer org.

Resources

• https://www.imo.org/en/about/Conventions/Pages/International-Convention-on-Maritime-Search-and-Rescue-(SAR).aspx
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Convention_on_Maritime_Search_and_Rescue
• https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Pages/IMO-documents-relevant-to-SAR.aspx
• https://www.rtcm.org/

Nation-specific
USA - USCG SAR

Author (topical bio)

Robert J. Rovetto

• MMSAR
• Co-author of U.S. National Water Safety Action Plan
• USCG-licensed Merchant Mariner (Deck Officer - Master 100 Ton Inland)
• U.S. Maritime SAR Profile (1)
• Sample Project: https://ontowaves.wordpress.com/