11/10/2026
Coastguard rescue teams demonstrate frontline skills to international rescue crews 🌊
HM Coastguard colleagues in Area 15 welcomed eight visiting rescue crew members from Estonia, France, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Antigua and the Netherlands this September, as part of an international crew exchange hosted by the RNLI for members of the International Maritime Rescue Federation - IMRF.
Coastguard rescue teams demonstrated a range of specialist skills, including casualty care, casualty extraction from remote locations, and mud rescue, giving visiting crews an insight into the UK's maritime search and rescue capabilities.
The IMRF brings together maritime rescue services from around the world, and its crew exchange programme gives frontline responders the chance to share knowledge and best practice across borders.
Michael Buratti, Area Commander for Area 15, said:
"It was a pleasure for our coastguard rescue teams to be involved in the RNLI’s international crew exchange and to welcome frontline rescue colleagues from across the world.
“These opportunities are a great way of demonstrating the capability and professionalism of our teams, while strengthening relationships across the international maritime search and rescue community.
"It was a really positive couple of days of collaboration, professional development and international friendship."
