Maritime SAR

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On Sunday 25 August we were alerted for several swimmers who were in trouble at the southern harbour head in Scheveningen. KNRM Scheveningen, the police and the Surf Rescue Team (SRT) of the Scheveningen fire brigade were already present. They had already been able to save 3 people and one person was still missing.

Everything was pulled out of the closet and, among other things, several air units from the Coast Guard and the Police arrived on the scene. The fire brigade also had an extra aerial platform brought in to be able to look between the blocks from a height. The emergency services who were standing on the harbour head searched as best they could between the blocks themselves. After a good 2 hours of searching, it was decided to end the search. Partly due to the falling darkness, the time that had passed and the circumstances, the chance of survival was very small.

The days that followed, an intensive search was conducted and the remains of the missing person were eventually recovered.

Our thoughts naturally go out to the family and the emergency services involved.

Such efforts always have an impact on the group of dedicated volunteers. With these images we want to show that we do more than just "sailing a boat".

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Wednesday afternoon at 4:12 p.m., a call came in to the rescuers of the VBZR via the Coast Guard, that a skipper of a sailboat had suffered significant head injuries. The skipper was sailing under sail with his wife off Ostend after a 3-week trip. They are on their way to the home port of Blankenberge. Presumably the rougher sea (5 Bft) threw the man off balance where he severely opened his scalp during the fall. Given the injuries, the man and woman know that help must come and they cannot wait for time to arrive in the home port of Blankenberge.

The rescuers of the VBZR rush out 9 minutes later. On board is also a VBZR rescuer with a medical background. Moments later the rescuers are at the scene. Immediately 2 rescuers went on board and the rescuer with medical background immediately took care of the victim. The other rescuer helps the woman with the boat's engine. Due to the fall, the throttle has broken off and the engine is running at full speed. The rescuers include rescuers with great experience in boats and marine engines, so rescuers were able to provide additional assistance with manual throttling.

With a tailwind and current, the lifeboat and sailboat sailed to the port of Blankenberge at 9 knots. At the port, the sailboat is taken alongside and an ambulance is already waiting at the Vismijntje to transport the man to the hospital. The rescuers ensure that the sailboat is neatly moored.

With the wind at their backs and the current behind them, the lifeboat and sailboat sailed at 9 knots to the port of Blankenberge. At the port, the sailboat is taken alongside and an ambulance is already waiting at the Vismijntje to transport the man to the hospital. The rescuers make sure that the sailboat is neatly moored at its berth and the woman has nothing else to worry about. The injured skipper is a member of the VBZR and all assistance is therefore free.

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Monday 31 October 2022. A yacht is taking on water off the coast of Cornwall. Penlee lifeboat crew launch to the rescue. 7m waves. 100mph wind. 8 people in danger. What happens next is the latest in a long history of incredible rescue stories by the RNLI.

Watch as the lifeboat crew involved in the rescue tell the story of how they tackled a dark and stormy night in their mission to save every one. And learn more about the incredible leadership and courage of Coxswain Patch Harvey that resulted in him being awarded the RNLI’s Silver Medal for Gallantry.

Together with their Swedish counterpart SSRS, Danish rescue helicopters, and the Danish emergency services.

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LIVEX 2024 is over! 🌊 We are proud of all the participants who worked extremely hard today in this major evacuation exercise. The Coast Guard and other relief organizations brought more than 500 people to safety. 💪 The scenario began with a distress call from the captain of the DFDS ferry 'Princess Seaways' to the Coast Guard. This was followed by an impressive collaboration between various rescue services.

The Coast Guard directed the rescue operation on the water. The Kennemerland Safety Region set up a large location to receive the evacuees. Several ships, KNRM lifeboats, helicopters, the Coast Guard aircraft, ambulances, (emergency) vehicles, control rooms and crisis teams were deployed.

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Heroz: Helpen En Redden Op Zee [Helping And Rescuing At Sea]

A look back at a fantastic day.

We warmly thank all attendees and everyone who participated in this festive event!

Special thanks also to godfather Rob Smeets, COO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges and godmother Anne Martens, district commissioner of the Province of West Flanders.

The new lifeboat was christened Heroz, after the core tasks of our rescue service. Offering help and rescuing people in distress at sea. As of today, the Heroz will be deployed in rescue work. The coming months will be spent practicing intensively so that the crew will be ready for the summer season with this new vessel.

Enjoy these beautiful images with thanks to Bart De Coninck.

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On August 8, 2023, a wildfire destroyed approximately 80% of Lahaina.

This is the story of the Coast Guard Station Maui members who heroically responded to help their community that evening, rescuing 17 people from the water and working with partner agencies to assist many more.

Station crew members launched to Lahaina harbor where 100 people were reported having entered the water to escape the fires.

Through the blinding smoke and burning debris, these Coast Guard men and women put their lives at risk to save others.

An experienced crew transferred the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) rescue cruiser ALFRIED KRUPP, which was once stationed on Borkum, to South America on its own keel in autumn 2023. There it is now on search and rescue duty for the Uruguayan Navy. In this film, the sea rescuers tell us what they experienced during the Atlantic crossing - and why the journey was also a matter close to their hearts.

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To celebrate International Women's Day, the IMRF takes a look at its #WomenInSAR campaign to showcase the prowess and professionalism of women in the maritime SAR sector.

Click here to learn more about the IMRF and its #WomenInSAR campaign: https://www.international-maritime-rescue.org/womeninsar

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16/02/2024 Port wall rescue at Zeebrugge. 🚨

At 6.20pm rescuers were urgently called. An occupant of an apartment building on the embankment at Zeebrugge had spotted a kiter in trouble.

Shortly afterwards, the lifeboat was already on its way to Zeebrugge. The kiter had managed to pull himself to safety on the large slippery blocks of the harbour wall. The lifeboat's shallow draft allowed rescuers to approach close enough to throw a life buoy with line. The kiter was still fit enough to wrap it around him and could be evacuated.

The man was exhausted and cold, he was given the necessary care and a warm spot in the lifeboat's wheelhouse. A rescuer went back into the water 2 more times to retrieve the unfortunate man's equipment as well. The kiter was taken to Blankenberge after which he returned home under his own power.

This one got off with a scare!

✅ Tip for kiters. Keep your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch with you, along with two hand flares so you can sound the alarm yourself in an emergency! A reflective cap or stickers on helmet or wetsuit can greatly increase the chances of being found during a search!

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Just before midnight on March 2, 2023, we were alerted to a vessel taking on water. The fishing cutter UK-149 and the Pilot Boat Pollux immediately went to the scene because they were already in the area. Together with colleagues from KNRM Hoek van Holland and Scheveningen we arrived at the incident ship. The passengers were taken off board and the first pumps were transferred. After the leak was found, it was closed and while pumping, we set sail towards the mountain harbour. Here the vessel was safely moored.

Successful deployment with all units.

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Throughout our 200 years of lifesaving, a lot has changed, including our lifeboats. From the rowing and sailing lifeboats of our early days, to the modern RNLI fleet today, take a look at how far we’ve come since our founding in 1824.

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Five metre high waves when the sailboat had to be rescued in Skagerrak. Video: Redningsselskapet/RS Inge Steensland

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The first Saturday of the new year

Following good tradition, it was the practice day with the colleagues of KNRM Westkapelle (boat Uly).

A collision had taken place on the Straffe Hendrik before this scenario. 1 crew member had fallen overboard and was unconscious. Someone had a severe head injury and the third was very confused.

In no time, the lifeboat Uly had located the drowning man and took him on board. From the Sterken Dries, 2 rescuers were placed on the incident ship to assess the situation and stabilise the victims. Meanwhile, the helicopter from @koksijde had also arrived. Due to resuscitation on the Uly, 2 persons from the nh90 were lowered onto the Sterken Dries who then dropped them off on the Uly to assist and take the casualty to hospital.

Meanwhile, the Sterken Dries sailed back to the incident ship. Both victims were assisted onto the lifeboats and safely transported to the port.

This successful exercise was followed by a warm reunion with our KNRM friends from Westkapelle. The year thus started well again!

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The prototype of a new boat class of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) was named KNUT OLAF KOLBE on Friday, 1 December 2023 in Wustrow. The volunteer centre there, which has been in existence for more than 175 years, is the oldest in the DGzRS. It now has a completely new rescue boat specially developed for the area - including a new special trailer and tractor.

Around eight and a half metres long, a draught of 60 centimetres and a speed of 33 knots (approx. 61 km/h) - these are some of the striking technical specifications of the new boat. The new 8.4 metre class of the DGzRS was constructed by Arctic Airboats in Finland, in close development cooperation with the sea rescuers. The prototype was built by a specialised Finnish boatbuilding company.

The new, extremely seaworthy rescue boat has a high-strength aluminium hull - typical of DGzRS rescue units. The superstructure is made of extremely robust glass fibre reinforced plastic. A 425 hp jet drive accelerates the boat to a speed of 33 knots (approx. 61 km/h).

Like its predecessor, this rescue boat is stationed ashore on a special trailer - also newly constructed - in the DGzRS rescue shed built in 1905 in the centre of Wustrow. A powerful John Deere 6R 230 tractor, specially converted for maritime use, transports the boat either to the open Baltic Sea or to the extensive backwaters of the Bodden.

Air Station Sitka’s area of responsibility (AOR) encompasses the entire Southeast region of Alaska from Dixon Entrance north to Central Alaska and from the U.S./Canadian border west to the central Gulf of Alaska.

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We look back on a quiet but exciting year. In 2023, our lifeboats made 2363 calls for assistance. Last year, 3,397 people (4,005 in 2022) and 123 animals were brought safely ashore by the lifeboats.

Everyone has also been busy preparing for the 200th anniversary in 2024. With special events, special products and exhibitions, KNRM has been marking a year since 11 November to reflect on the stories of the past and look ahead to the coming years full of innovation.

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Throughout the year, the volunteer lifeboat crews of the Royal Dutch Rescue Society (KNRM) visit the anchorages off the Dutch coast. Usually to get sick and injured people off board large sea-going vessels. Every year, the volunteer rescuers from KNRM rescue stations Katwijk aan Zee, Scheveningen, IJmuiden, Hoek van Holland, Ter Heijde, Stellendam and Neeltje Jans combine their last exercise of the year with a special action. They handed out Christmas loaves at ships anchored at anchor. We went out with the volunteers from Katwijk aan Zee!

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Erik Bye summarised the Rescue Society's work well in connection with our 100th anniversary. Sailing for life! This also summarises the year we have been through. We have sailed for life and saved 27 human lives. We are proud of that! Thank you to all of you who have made this possible: volunteers, permanent employees, donors, donors, supporters and the public sector. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!

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Take a look back at an eventful - and moving - year for sea rescuers in 2023 with our annual review! We would like to thank you all in #TeamSeenotretter for your great support in the year that is drawing to a close.

Every donation counts!

Thanks to your great commitment, the sea rescuers were once again able to carry out around 2,000 missions on the North Sea and Baltic Sea in 2023 - in all weathers, around the clock. And they did so voluntarily, independently and funded by donations. This would not be possible without you - thank you very much for your support!

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How do you quickly and intelligently evacuate hundreds of people from a ferry? What do you need to get everyone safely to shore? And: how can emergency services like KNRM, ambulances, fire brigade and the Coast Guard best work together to do so? This is what we are practising at LIVEX on 1 June 2024.