Annual meeting 2024 - 100 years of excellence in SAR!

We are thrilled to announce the theme for the 2024 Annual Meeting is: "Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Everywhere and at All Times." This special event, marking 100 years of IMRF Excellence, will be hosted by the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki, Greece. Attendance is complimentary for all IMRF members. If you are not a member but want to join us, click here. Please scroll down for annual meeting programme outline and agenda.

Enrol for this exciting gathering on 27 and 28 November 2024, not only to celebrate a century of excellence in search and rescue but also to network with your colleagues in the global SAR family! You can now register here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/annual-meeting-and-edi.

In conjunction with the Annual Meeting, we are organising our first ever Equality, Diversity and Inclusion seminar on 26 November. This seminar is a valuable addition to the Annual Meeting, providing a platform to discuss and promote these important topics in our industry. You can register for the EDI seminar using the same registration form as for the Annual Meeting. Read more about the EDI seminar.

Dates: 27-28 November 2024.

Location: Grand Hotel Palace, Thessaloniki, Greece

Theme: The theme of the meeting is SAR Everywhere and at All Times. As we celebrate the IMRF centenary, we will be discussing our past, present and future. After assessing our collective achievements, we shift focus to our current priorities. As we work together to map out the future of our industry, including future challenges and opportunities, this year’s meeting’s main objective will be on SAR organisations’ sustainability, including our #FutureSAR project, and the use of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). We will also focus on our key advocacy role in influencing policy and regulation for our sector.

Cost: There is no registration fee for this event, as it’s a members' benefit. However, for this year only and due to the high anticipated number of attendees, there will be a charge for those attending the celebration dinner on 27 November. The evening will bring us together to celebrate our achievements over the past 100 years of advancing maritime SAR around the globe.

Programme Outline

The annual meeting will celebrate IMRF's 100-year history, reflecting on global achievements in search and rescue (SAR) and providing updates on IMRF programmes. Key topics include sustainability in maritime SAR, innovative uses of rescue equipment, discussions on Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS), and the benefits of IMRF membership. The IMRF Awards 2024 and future plans for 2025 will also be highlighted. The second day will focus on the Hellenic Rescue Team, covering their history, future plans, and technological advancements, culminating in a live demonstration in Thessaloniki's port, in collaboration with the Greek Coast Guard. The event ends at 1 pm.

Annual Meeting Agenda

Wednesday 27 November

08:00 Registration Opens

09:00 Opening Remarks (Fotis Sarigiannis, President, Hellenic Rescue Team, Caroline Jupe, CEO, International Maritime Rescue Federation, Panagiotis Gkofas, Quaestor European Economic & Social Committee, Advisor Committee of the European Commission, EP and Council, Rapporteur Evaluation Report rescEU, Jori Nordstrom, Trustee, IMRF and CEO, FLBI (Chair, Annual Meeting, Day 1)

THEME: THE PAST

09:15 IMRF 100 years, reflections and a photo tour

09:50 Coffee and Networking Break

THEME: THE PRESENT

10:10 Updates on Programmes and Panels

IMRF Global SAR Community Impact in 2024 (Caroline Jupe)

#SARyouOK? (Caroline Jupe)

LCE Programme (Jaakko Heikkilä)

EDI & #WomenInSAR (Jaakko Heikkilä)

#SaferSAR (Jaakko Heikkilä)

IMO Advocacy (Roly McKie)

Aeronautical Panel (Roly McKie)

Basic Rescue Boat Operator Manual and Model Course (Roly McKie)

11:30 IMRF Global SAR Community Journey: where we are at, where we are going and how we will get there (Caroline Jupe, Jacob Tas and Cia Sjöstedt)

12:00 Lunch Break

13:00 Member Focuses (Jori Nordström)

Members to present their suggested topics. Please inform us of your willingness to present at the registration form.

THEME: THE FUTURE

14:00 #FutureSAR project

Project update (Jaakko Heikkilä)

Flood Rescue in Greece Case Study (Hellenic Rescue Team)

Sustainability in Maritime SAR Organisations (Katie Young)

#FutureSAR Workshop (Jaakko Heikkilä and Katie Young)

15:20 Coffee and Networking Break

15:50 Implications of IMO MASS Code on SAR (Roly McKie)

17:00 IMRF Awards 2024

17:15 What to Expect in 2025 from the IMRF (Jaakko Heikkilä and Caroline Jupe)

17:25 Closing Remarks (Jori Nordström)

17:30 Close of Meeting Day 1

19:00 Networking Dinner (Hamodrakas Seafood Restaurant, 13 Gagyli M., Thessaloníki)

All delegates attending the dinner will need to book and pay for it themselves.

Thursday 28 November

08.50 Opening Remarks (Maria Zachariadou, Vice President, Hellenic Rescue Team, Chair, Annual Meeting Day 2)

THEME: SAR IN GREECE

09:00 Women in SAR Case Study (Hellenic Rescue Team)

09:15 New Technologies in Sea Rescue (Hellenic Rescue Team)

09:30 Sea SAR Operations in Greece (Hellenic Rescue Team)

10.00 Depart by Bus from the Hotel to the Exercise Location

10:25 Welcome Speech (Hellenic Coast Guard – TBC)

10:30 Exercise Demonstration (Thessaloniki Seafront)

12:00 Lunch (Thessaloniki Seafront)

13:00 End of 2024 Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting will finish at Thessaloniki Seafront, giving delegates the opportunity to explore the area after the meeting. It is a 50 mins walk from the seafront to the hotel where the Annual Meeting is being held. You can either take a bus (27 mins) or a taxi (10 mins) back from the seafront.

Accommodation

You are free to choose any of the local hotels. However, we have negotiated the following prices for Grand Hotel Palace (www.grandhotelpalace.gr), which is also the venue for the meeting:

Classic single room: €100 per night
Classic double room: €115 per night
Deluxe single room: €115 per night
Deluxe double room: €130 per night

Please book your accommodation directly with the hotel through this link. Delegates can book their rooms through the link until October 26th. All delegates are responsible for paying for their own accommodation, travel and any visa needed as well as any refreshments that are not included in the programme.

For instructions on how to reach the hotel from Thessaloniki airport, Thessaloniki railway station or from Athens by car, please visit: https://www.grandhotelpalace.gr/en/hotel/access

Registration

To register for this event, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/annual-meeting-and-edi.

You can register for the EDI seminar using the same registration form as for the Annual Meeting.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

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