Naval and Air SAR Units from the participating Nations will take part in the exercise under the operational control and full coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Larnaca, in close cooperation with the corresponding Rescue Coordination Centers (RCCs) of Israel (RCC HAIFA), Greece (JRCC Piraeus) and the United States of America (NAVEUR/PRCC which is based in Naples, Italy).

The main objective of the aeronautical exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean is the planning, preparation and execution of a multinational joint SAR in order to promote readiness for effective response in SAR missions and other humanitarian operations in the region.

The SAR exercise scenario deals with a serious accident in open sea, within an area where oil and gas rigs are operating along with their supporting vessels.

In particular, training exercises will focus on MEDEVAC and SAR operations, confronting of maritime pollution, asymmetric threats and associated security issues that might arise either on cargo or passenger ships and/or platforms, in the Eastern Mediterranean.

During the exercise, the ‘Ministerial Crisis Management Team’ and the ‘Crisis Management Coordinating Team’, which consist of representatives of all the involved State Services of the Republic of Cyprus, will be assembled at JRCC Larnaca, in order to deal with the SAR incident.

Source: Famagusta Gazette