Maritime Search and Rescue Solution THEMIS SAR: Co-Building Innovation to Save Lives at Sea

When a Search and Rescue alert is triggered at sea, teams must react with speed and precision. In such moments, the ability to predict a casualty’s likely drift and coordinate assets efficiently can determine the outcome of the mission. This need for accuracy and operational clarity brought coastguard representatives from Guernsey Ports to CLS headquarters in Toulouse for a recent Customer Lab session.

Held at a pivotal moment for ongoing SAR developments, the workshop gathered CLS experts and operational users to test and refine the maritime search and rescue solution THEMIS SAR. Together, they explored real scenarios drawn from the English Channel, one of Europe’s most dynamic and demanding maritime environments, discussing how data, modelling and practical experience should shape the next generation of SAR tools.

The session highlighted why continued collaboration is essential: technology alone cannot anticipate every operational challenge, but the combination of field expertise and scientific innovation can. By bringing together those who develop solutions and those who rely on them during high-stakes missions, the Customer Lab ensures that THEMIS SAR evolves in line with the real-world pressures faced by Search and Rescue teams every day.

The Customer Lab: Co-developing innovation with SAR professionals

CLS created the Customer Lab to build a structured and repeatable way of integrating user knowledge into the evolution of its solutions. Search and Rescue operations differ greatly depending on geography, weather, available assets, crew experience and local procedures.

Therefore, continuous dialogue with SAR professionals is essential.

The Customer Lab allows operational users to:

• discuss existing workflows,
• suggest improvements directly to the development team,
• validate new features presented,
• share operational constraints that cannot be observed solely from the development side,
• and get to know the CLS teams better.

This environment breaks silos between product experts, oceanographers, developers and SAR operators. It creates a feedback loop that accelerates innovation and ensures that THEMIS SAR is not only technologically advanced, but also practical and intuitive for those who rely on it during critical missions.

Field testimony: Guernsey Coastguard and their experience with THEMIS SAR

During a live Search and Rescue training exercise in the English Channel, the Guernsey Coastguard used THEMIS SAR to predict the trajectory of a dummy deployed at sea. The outcome was a strong demonstration of the platform’s accuracy.

Kieran Higgs recounts:

“During a coastguard exercise with a dummy, THEMIS SAR gave an incredibly accurate approximate position for where the casualty was.”

For rescue teams, this level of precision translates into reduced uncertainty, faster deployment of SAR units and a higher probability of survival for the person in distress.

Kieran also spoke highly of the environment created by CLS during the Customer Lab:

“I’ve been incredibly impressed by all the team, the building and the workshops.”

This collaborative space allowed for open technical discussions, including with the developers themselves:

“I talked with Christophe, one of the developers, we had very interesting discussions about how to improve the product collectively.”

Finally, he encouraged other SAR organisations to consider adopting THEMIS SAR:

“We are getting fantastic results and we encourage other companies to certainly consider using CLS THEMIS SAR solution.”

This testimonial confirms the operational value of the tool and highlights the importance of co-building SAR technology with end-users.

THEMIS SAR: An operational architecture designed for Search & Rescue

THEMIS SAR supports all stages of Search and Rescue operations through three key capabilities: drift modelling, real-time data fusion, and SAR asset coordination. Its architecture is built to provide fast, accurate and actionable information during maritime emergencies.

Hybrid drift modelling (IAMSAR-compliant + stochastic particle modelling)

At the core of the platform lies its drift prediction engine. THEMIS SAR integrates:

• Deterministic drift modelling following IAMSAR standards

This model uses: wind fields, ocean currents, tide variations, wave influence, object leeway coefficients (depending on casualty type). It ensures full compliance with international SAR guidelines published by IMO and ICAO.

• Stochastic “particle drift” modelling

The system simulates thousands of particles to account for uncertainties in the last known position, object behaviour and environmental variability. The result is a map of probabilistic search areas that provides a more robust estimate than deterministic modelling alone.

Combined, these two models significantly improve accuracy and reduce search times.

Real-time fusion of multi-source maritime data

THEMIS SAR aggregates and updates a wide range of data sources, including:

• meteorological and oceanographic models,
• AIS/VMS/LRIT vessel tracks,
• coastal radar feeds,
• satellite imagery (optical & SAR),
• COSPAS-SARSAT distress beacon alerts.

By merging all relevant environmental, surveillance and distress information, the platform provides a comprehensive situational overview. It enables operators to adjust search plans instantly based on new data.

SAR asset coordination and mission planning

THEMIS SAR supports coordinators by managing all Search and Rescue Units (SRUs), including vessels, helicopters, aircraft and unmanned systems.

Key capabilities include:

• centralised SRU availability and capability database,
• automatic Search Area Evaluation (SAE),
• automatic Search Area Allocation (SAA),
• calculation of POD, POS and POC,
• multi-user, multi-centre coordination,
• generation of SITREP and SAPREP reports.

This ensures standardised, rapid and documented SAR planning consistent with international procedures.

 

Tangible benefits for maritime rescue operations

Using the maritime search and rescue solution THEMIS SAR brings significant operational advantages to SAR teams, particularly in environments where conditions change quickly and uncertainty is high.
By combining sophisticated drift models with real-time data fusion, THEMIS SAR reduces the time required to identify the most probable search area. This accelerates deployments and increases the likelihood of locating the casualty swiftly.

The platform also improves the allocation of available SAR assets. Its automated evaluation and assignment tools ensure that vessels, aircraft or drones are used effectively and according to their capabilities. Coordinators can build coherent, optimised search plans that match the operational scenario.

Another major advantage lies in mission documentation. The ability to generate SITREP and SAPREP reports instantly reduces administrative workload and ensures that every decision taken during the operation is recorded.

Finally, because THEMIS SAR’s evolution is guided by operational feedback from Customer Labs, the platform stays up to date with user expectations and the latest scientific developments in drift modelling, ocean data and SAR coordination. This continuous improvement cycle strengthens the solution’s long-term relevance for SAR agencies worldwide.

The maritime search and rescue solution THEMIS SAR represents the combination of advanced technology and user-driven development. Its drift modelling capabilities, integrated operational data and SAR planning tools make it a powerful asset for any organisation involved in maritime rescue missions.

The field experience shared by the Guernsey Coastguard reinforces its value: greater accuracy, faster decision-making and a solution that evolves through meaningful collaboration between developers and SAR professionals.