The International Maritime Rescue Federation* World Maritime Rescue Congress (WMRC) 2023 is the largest event of its kind in the world, open to all with an interest in SAR.

The event will include a number of talks, discussions and workshops.

Congress will be jointly hosted by the IMRF and the Netherlands’ lifeboat service KNRM in ss Rotterdam, the former flagship of the Holland-America Line, now a hotel and conference venue  moored permanently in the heart of Rotterdam.

Theme

The overall theme for WMRC 2023 is Towards sustainable maritime SAR – building on our history to secure our future and will include three conference threads: SAR operations today, Sharing SAR experiences and The future sustainability of SAR.

For more information see here:

https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/Event/wmrc-2023

Registration is available here:

https://wmrc2023.com/registration/

Early Registration Rates expire on 17 March 2023 and the Call for Abstracts is open until 3 February 2023

A short promotional video is here:

https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/News/wmrc-2023-media-gallery

Lifeboat showcase

Lifeboats play such an instrumental part of the day-to-day activities of maritime search and rescue (SAR) organizations around the world. No matter the size and scope of the organization, every crew knows the importance that lifeboats have played in saving lives at sea.

The World Maritime Rescue Conference (WMRC) is looking to highlight the importance of lifeboats and demonstrate how crucial they are to maritime SAR operations.

As part of the three-day event, the congress is looking to showcase the international fleet of lifeboats on the Nieuwe Maas river in the centre of Rotterdam.

Invitation to lifeboats

To put on such a feat, KNRM is looking for participating international SAR organizations to bring operational lifeboats and historical lifeboats with them to WMRC 2023.(See KNRM image).

Koos van der Bent, Operational Inspector at KNRM, is taking the lead on this incredibly important display. If you would like to know more about this programme, including participation at the fleet demonstration day on 18 June 2023, readers are invited to can contact Koos at j.vanderbent@knrm.nl  or by telephone  to +31 653 296 727.

For the crew members of the visiting lifeboats the organisers  are offering several options to combine the visit of their lifeboat with the congress:

* https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/

The latest news on IMRF activities is to be found here:

https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/news/getting-back-together-the-imrfs-impact-in-2022