[SatNews] McMurdo Group, a provider in end-to-end search and rescue and maritime domain awareness solutions, announces its commitment to  International Maritime Rescue Federation (‘IMRF’) by becoming the first search and rescue technologies and solutions provider to join the Federation. The group’s aim is to increase global awareness of the needs of marine mass rescue and help coordinate action to prevent the loss of life in the world’s waters.

McMurdo Group has joined the IMRF as an Associate Member. By partnering with the IMRF and other organizations around the globe, McMurdo will be able to help develop a more cost-effective rescue capability to meet ever-growing challenges, especially those emanating from mass rescues at sea. As part of its commitment to the IMRF, the Group will also be making a donation to the Federation.  

The IMRF brings the world's maritime search and rescue organizations together in one global family, accredited by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).  IMRF's member organisations such as the McMurdo Group contribute in providing ideas, technologies and experiences to achieve one common humanitarian aim: "Preventing loss of life in the world's waters.”

Mass rescue operations remain too big for search and rescue organizations to handle routinely: extraordinary capabilities have to be identified and applied. A global drowning report released in November 2014 by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that 372,000 lives are lost worldwide due to drowning each year. The IMRF’s project, through its coalition group, seeks to improve maritime search and rescue capability around the world by analyzing problems and identifying solutions for faster recovery. 

McMurdo Group provides the most comprehensive portfolio of search and rescue and tracking solutions in the industry today. From COSPAS SARSAT EPIRBs and PLBs, AIS MOB devices, satellite connectivity infrastructure, coastal surveillance and emergency response communications, the McMurdo Group aims to save time and, ultimately, to save lives. 

Bruce Reid, Chief Executive Officer, International Maritime Rescue Federation commented,  “The World Health Organizations Global report on drowning estimates 372,000 lives are lost on the world’s waters which is intolerable. We know that many maritime deaths can be prevented through improving Maritime SAR response, coordination and, smarter communications. McMurdo’s Associate Membership means the IMRF now have the support of an organization with unparalleled experience; as a provider of end to end search and rescue solutions; in our continued quest to prevent loss of life in the world’s waters.”  

Justine Heeley Managing Director, McMurdo Group said, “In 2014 alone, we have seen a large number of incidents costing the lives of thousands of people. As a business, we share the same goal as the federation and are proud to be able to contribute to IMRF’s goal to ‘prevent the loss of life in the world’s waters’. Every nation should have a national prevention strategy, underpinned by a range of practical, effective programs and interventions, and through our commitment to the cause, together with the coalition, we hope to introduce new safety standards worldwide that could save lives.”