The Search and Rescue Unit of the Authority undertakes search and rescue of distressed persons in the maritime and inland waterways of the Republic of Ghana. The Unit was established from the onset of the formation of the Ghana Maritime Authority. In June 2010, Ghana satisfied all criteria for the establishment of Tema Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (Tema MRSC) after an IMO Audit. This sub-centre remained under Monrovia Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (Monrovia MRCC) till 2019.

The centre (Tema MRSC) was upgraded to MRCC in 2019 with the responsibility to carry out full search and rescue operations in Ghana’s Search and Rescue Region(SRR) bordered by the coordinates Latitude 05ᵒ 01.373’N Longitude 002ᵒ 47.772’W, Latitude 01ᵒ 00.000’N Longitude 002ᵒ 47.772’W, Latitude 01ᵒ00.000’N Longitude 000ᵒ 35.000’E and Latitude 06ᵒ 03.050’N Longitude 001ᵒ 06.120’E.

Tema MRCC maintains a continuous watch on VHF Ch.16 and DSC Ch.70 at all times for distress, urgency and securitè messages. The Tema MRCC coordinates its activities through the following stakeholder organizations namely: Ghana Airforce, Ghana Navy, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Ambulance Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Meteorological Agency, National Disaster Management Organization and the Ghana Ports and HarboursAuthority.

The Unit has successfully carried out several rescue operations including medical evacuations(Medevac), rescue from sinking vessels and other dangers at sea. The Unit is in the process of upgrading its radio equipment to IMO/ICAO standards in order to efficiently carry out its monitoring of radio communication regarding the safety of life at sea