SAR stands for Search and Rescue, a maritime term referring to the coordinated efforts to locate and provide aid to persons, ships, or other craft that are in distress or facing imminent danger on the water. It is a humanitarian service that aims to save lives, provide medical aid, and deliver survivors to a place of safety, typically coordinated by national authorities like coast guards or navy, and assisted by volunteers or nearby vessels.

Key Aspects of Maritime SAR
Core Mission: To save lives, provide medical aid, and deliver survivors to a place of safety.

Legal Obligation: Under international law (such as UNCLOS and the SAR Convention), all ships—including private sailing vessels—are duty-bound to provide assistance to anyone in distress at sea.

Coordination Centers: Operations are typically managed by a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) or a Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC). These centers monitor distress signals (like VHF Ch 16 or EPIRB alerts) and dispatch assets like lifeboats, helicopters, or passing commercial ships.

The "Golden Hours": SAR teams aim to find those in distress as quickly as possible, as the chances of survival significantly increase if found within the initial hours of an incident.

Types of Operations:
Coastal Rescue: Near-shore rescues by fast lifeboats.

Offshore Rescue: Deep-water rescues requiring larger, all-weather vessels and aircraft.

Air-Sea Rescue (ASR): Coordinated use of aircraft (helicopters/planes) and surface vessels.