About UKSAR Portal
The UK's search & rescue community, mapped and connected.
UKSARPortal is a free, independent resource built to make the UK's search and rescue network more visible, accessible and connected — for the public, for volunteers, and for the SAR community itself.
Explore the SAR Network
Browse hundreds of rescue teams, coastguard stations, mountain rescue units, lifeboat stations and more — all plotted on an interactive map. Filter by type, region or capability.
Live Asset Tracking
Watch real-time positions of RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard aircraft, and other tracked SAR assets as they operate. Launch data and flight telemetry updated continuously.
Team Profiles & Capabilities
Every listed organisation has a dedicated profile — area of operation, equipment, lifeboat classes, specialist capabilities and contact details. Team managers can claim and maintain their own page.
Events & Incident Updates
SAR teams can share upcoming events and log recent callouts directly on the portal, keeping the community informed and the public up to date.
SAR Heritage
Explore the retired vessels, aircraft, vehicles and equipment that shaped UK search and rescue — and discover the museums and exhibitions that keep their stories alive.
⚠️ Important Notice from the UKSAR Portal
The UKSAR Portal is the brainchild of a group of SAR enthusiasts and professionals who are passionate about Search and Rescue and celebrating the incredible work of the UK's rescue services.
Please note:
- We are not a government body or an official agency, nor linked to one
- This portal and its maps are for informational and educational purposes only
- They must not be used for Incident Command, operational planning, or emergency response
🛟 The UK Search & Rescue Region
The UK is responsible for one of the busiest Regions in the world, covering the entire country, surrounding waters, and a large area of the North Atlantic.
Search and Rescue operations along the coastline and at sea in this region are coordinated by His Majesty's Coastguard, working with lifeboats, helicopters, coastguard teams, and volunteer rescue organisations across the UK. The police look after inland incidents.
🌍 See the Global SAR Picture
Search & Rescue is a global system.
To explore worldwide SAR regions and international boundaries, visit 👉 Global SAR Hub, a platform showing how the UK fits into the global SAR network.
🧭 What You'll Find on the Portal
- A live national map of UK SAR teams
- Team of the Week highlights
- Upcoming SAR events across the country
- Clear explanations of who SAR teams are and what they do
- The ability for teams to take ownership of their listing and keep details up to date
- A growing Heritage directory of retired SAR assets, historic vessels, aircraft, and museums across the UK
📊 Data Sources
UKSARPortal combines multiple data sources to give the most complete picture of UK SAR capability:
- Live AIS feeds — real-time vessel positions for tracked lifeboats and SAR craft
- ADS-B telemetry — live aircraft positions for HM Coastguard and SAR helicopters, sourced via ADS-B exchange
- RNLI launch records — official launch data sourced directly from RNLI public records
- Team-submitted updates — incident logs, events, photos and profile details submitted by verified team representatives
- Heritage submissions — details of retired SAR assets, exhibits, and museums submitted by the community and verified before publication
- Publicly available information — organisational data from SAR agencies and open sources, manually verified for accuracy
The portal does not use operational, sensitive, or real-time emergency data — only publicly accessible information and team-approved updates.
🤝 Who It's For
The portal is designed for:
- The public
- SAR volunteers
- Journalists & researchers
- Anyone curious about how Search & Rescue works in the UK
📝 Independent and Community Driven
The UKSAR Portal is an independent project created to support the UK's Search & Rescue community.
It is not an official government system — it's a public resource built to improve awareness, understanding, and visibility of the UK's lifesaving capability.
Are you a SAR team manager?
You can claim your organisation's page and take control of your profile — update your description, capabilities, photos, and log recent callouts for the public to see. It's free, takes minutes, and puts your team properly on the map.
Claim your page →UKSARPortal is a community project, constantly evolving. If something's missing, incorrect, or could be better — we want to hear from you.
Send feedback →⚠️ UKSAR Portal is an informational website only. To report an emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the appropriate service.
⚠️ UKSAR Portal is an informational website only. To report an emergency, always dial 999 and ask for the appropriate service.