Multinational CIMIC
Exercise “ARGONAUT 2015”
Third Phase “Search
and Rescue (SAR) Operations”
The Third
Phase “Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations”, of the Multinational Civil
Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Exercise “ARGONAUT 2015” was concluded yesterday,
Wednesday, the 27th of May 2015, within the Search and Rescue Region
(SRR) of the Republic of Cyprus, which coincides with the FIR Nicosia.
The SAR
exercise scenarios dealt with severe Air (Civilian Passenger Aircraft - Day
Scenario) and Maritime (Passenger Ship - Night Scenario) accidents at open sea
during which SAR Operations as well as MEDEVAC operations, in order to locate
and rescue people in distress, were carried out.
In
the SAR PHASE of the exercise, Greece participated with a fast attack craft,
France with a frigate and helicopters, the United Kingdom with a helicopter of
84 SAR Squadron and the United States with a P-3 Orion aircraft of the 6th
fleet. The Republic of Cyprus (Host Nation) took part with AW-139 helicopters
of the 460 SAR Squadron, vessels of the Port & Marine Police and aircrafts
of the Forestry Department. The Underwater Demolition Team of the Cyprus Navy,
paramedics of the Medic Team Rescue Larnaca/Civil Defence and the Medical Services of the Ministry of
Health also participated in the exercise.
During the SAR
PHASE, the «Crisis Management Coordinating Team», which consists of
representatives of all the involved state services of the Republic of Cyprus,
assembled at the JRCC Larnaca, in order to deal with the SAR incidents. The
JRCC Larnaca in cooperation with the other participating services of the
Republic and the aeronautical means and personnel of the participating friendly
states, have shown their high level of preparedness in order to deal with any
unforeseen situation or SAR incident in case of crisis and evacuation
incidents from the Middle East.
The foreign
observers witnessed the SAR scenarios, from the JRCC operations room in Larnaca
and onboard a Vessel of the Cyprus Navy which participated in the exercise.
The conducting
of such exercises in full coordination of the JRCC, establishes the Republic of
Cyprus as a pillar and a hub for providing humanitarian operations for the
benefit of the international community and the neighboring countries.
Press Office, 28 May 2015
