Strengthening Regional SAR Cooperation in the Caribbean
Strengthening Regional SAR Cooperation in the Caribbean
🛰️ The International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO) participated in the Regional Caribbean Search and Rescue (SAR) Workshop, held in Miami, United States, from 3 to 6 February 2026.
The workshop brought together around 90 participants from regional and international SAR stakeholders, including maritime administrations, Rescue Coordination Centres, SAR operators, and international organizations. The objective was to exchange operational experience and further strengthen cooperation in Search and Rescue activities across the region.
IMSO delivered a presentation highlighting its role in the oversight of the Recognized Mobile Satellite Systems for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), as well as its role as Coordinator for the Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT), with particular emphasis on the operational use of these systems in support of SAR activities.
🧭 The presentation included a live demonstration of LRIT for SAR purposes, conducted using the Brazilian LRIT Regional Data Centre, with system access kindly granted by COMPAAZ (Brazilian Navy). The demonstration illustrated how SAR services can request and use LRIT information, including ship position data and surface picture (SURPIC) requests, to support SAR coordination and operational decision-making.
🤝 In addition to the technical sessions, discussions were held on the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Global Maritime Search and Rescue System Review, allowing participants to contribute regional perspectives and operational insights to this ongoing global initiative.



