A Multinational Search and Rescue (SAR) Daylight Exercise, titled “CYPUSA-01/14”, will be conducted on Wednesday, near the coast of Cyprus, with the participation of SAR Units and Personnel from the Republic of Cyprus and the United States of America.
According to a press release issued by the Defence Ministry, Rescue Naval Units and Helicopters will take part in the Aeronautical SAR Exercise under the operational control and full coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Larnaca, in close cooperation with the 6th Fleet / Command Task Force-65 of the United States Navy.
The main objective of the Aeronautical Exercise is the planning, preparation and execution of a Multinational joint SAR exercise, in order to promote Personnel & Rescue Units capabilities, and readiness for effective response in SAR missions and other humanitarian operations within the Republic of Cyprus Search and Rescue Region (SRR), and in the Eastern Mediterranean, in general.
The scenario deals with a simulated “Maritime Accident” in which the Cyprus National SAR Plan “NEARCHOS” would be immediately implemented by the JRCC Larnaca in order to deal with the situation.
Specifically, the exercise will focus on “MAN-OVER-BOARD” and “MEDEVAC” emergency drills, daylight SAR Operations, deck-landings practice of the SAR Helicopters on board the U.S. Navy Ship’s flight deck, and associated SAR issues that might arise either on Passenger or Cargo Ships, in the region.
This will be the second exercise on SAR matters, this year, between the JRCC Larnaca, which represents the SAR system of the Republic of Cyprus, and the U.S. Navy; the first combined SAR exercise in the field, was carried out on the 10th of April in the framework of the Multinational Exercise “NEMESIS-2014”.