Roland McKie
SAR Advisor IMRF-International Maritime Rescue Federation
Mr McKie started his working life in the commercial general aviation sector in air traffic services and aircraft charter services operations . He followed this with 9 years in the United Kingdom ’ s Royal Air Force as a radar and electronic systems specialist .
In 1992 he joined HM Coastguard and then spent 30 years in the service , serving for 12 years as a MRCC SAR coordinator , Vessel Traffic Service operator , SAR Mission Coordinator and MRCC Manager . He then completed 18 years in various SAR administration and management roles which included the development of computer search planning systems ; creating operational lessons-identified reporting systems ; working as part of the Future Coastguard Project team ( 2010 to 2015 ) to modernise and reform the service ; leading and directing the team that created an online Coastguard operational management system ; creating the UK SAR cooperation plan and SAR capability requirements for offshore renewable energy installations ( wind farms and wave energy systems ); improving the UK Coastguard procedures for locating mobile ( cell ) phones of missing persons ; and creation of operational Standards Auditing procedures and processes . He was appointed as the Head of Coastguard Standards in 2017 and retired in 2023 .
" MASS and SAR presentation "
The presentation explained the development of autonomous and remotely operated vessels , named by IMO as Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships ( MASS ), and discussed the possible impacts that these vessels will have on the global SAR system . It outlined the requirements and capabilities needed for a MASS to provide effective and reliable SAR functions , noting that a large amount of SAR is carried out by commercial ships at sea , particularly where the SAR incident is outside the range of shore based rescue units .