More than fifty participants—including staff of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), fishermen, and residents of fishing communities across Montserrado, Margibi, Maryland, and Grand Bassa Counties—have completed a comprehensive technical training in search and rescue (SAR).
The training, held during the week, took place at the Liberia Maritime Training Institute in Marshall City, Margibi County. It was facilitated by a four-member delegation from the United Kingdom’s Maritime Search and Rescue Council (MSARC), led by its Chairperson, Captain Matthew Schanck.
Participants were equipped with critical lifesaving skills, including survival techniques in water, post-rescue care to stabilize victims, and practical approaches to supporting and calming families during emergencies. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime safety and reduce drowning incidents within Liberia’s fishing communities.
MSARC’s engagement in Liberia was facilitated by the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD), the official development and humanitarian agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and a member of the global Caritas Network. MSARC is an international professional body dedicated to advancing search and rescue training, research, and operational excellence worldwide.
In Liberia, the team is implementing a Training of Trainers (ToT) program focused on operational-level Search and Rescue (SAR) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The program is designed to build a sustainable pool of local trainers capable of cascading lifesaving skills nationwide.
CAFOD, which has operated in Liberia since the 1990s, works with over 500 local partners across 40 countries. Since 2020, the organization has intensified its support to Liberia’s fisheries sector by providing technical training, safety equipment, navigational tools, and solar-powered freezers to improve fish preservation and livelihoods.
The current collaboration with MSARC aligns with CAFOD’s broader Safety at Sea strategy, which seeks to enhance operational SAR capacity, strengthen lifesaving medical skills, and foster strategic partnerships with government institutions to ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking at the event, CAFOD’s Country Manager for Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Michael Mondengele, urged participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge to help curb drowning incidents nationwide. He encouraged them to serve as ambassadors within their communities by sharing lifesaving skills and promoting safe practices at sea.
The program also featured practical search and rescue demonstrations at the swimming pool of the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, providing participants with hands-on experience to reinforce theoretical instruction.