Mass Persons in Water Triage procedure

The Multiple Persons in Water Triage Tool developed by HMCG has been adopted by the RNLI and vessels that are contracted by Border Security Command (BSC). Following international consultation and endorsement through the International Mass Rescue Federation (IMRF), the RNLI have now implemented the tool throughout the UK to all their lifeboat crews. In March 2026, HMCG shared the tool with all other SAR delivery partners, including independent lifeboats and Bristow Helicopters. The tool is also included in HMCG’s Mass Rescue Operations Plan, which is used by operational HMCG staff as a framework for how to best respond to a large-scale mass rescue operation. It outlines the roles within a response, how HMCG should respond and requirements to train, exercise and continuously develop.

The Department for Transport published its interim response to the Cranston Inquiry in July 2026, which included updates against this recommendation. This update noted that many of the recommendations - including this one - have been marked as complete but are necessarily based on an on-going approach, rather than having a single end point. The Department (DfT), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), and His Majesty’s Coastguard (HMCG) are committed to on-going learning and improvement, and will regularly review processes and practices, learning from best practice, to ensure that they are fit to meet the evolving challenges of maritime search and rescue (SAR). Due to the operational and ongoing nature of these recommendations, the MCA has established an internal process of monitoring, verifying and reporting against recommendations that are its responsibility, noting that many recommendations require an on-going approach rather than reaching a single, fixed point.