Multinational
CIMIC Exercise “ARGONAUT 2015”
Third
Phase “Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations”
It is announced that the Third Phase “Search
and Rescue (SAR) Operations”, of the Multinational Civil Military Cooperation
(CIMIC) Exercise “ARGONAUT 2015” will be conducted tomorrow, Wednesday, 27th
of May 2015, within the Republic of Cyprus Search and Rescue Region (SRR),
which coincides with the FIR Nicosia.
In this framework, two large full-scale multinational
day and night SAR practice trainings, will be carried out in the field.
Specifically, naval and air SAR Units and personnel from the Republic of Cyprus
(host nation), Greece, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of
America, will take part in the SAR PHASE of the exercise “ARGONAUT 2015”, under
the operational control and coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination
Center (JRCC) Larnaca.
The main objectives of the day and night
aeronautical exercises are the planning, preparation and execution of multinational
joint SAR in order to promote readiness for effective response on SAR missions
and other humanitarian operations in the wider region, to enhance international
SAR cooperation and build of cross-border SAR networks.
The SAR exercise scenarios deal with air
(Civilian Passenger Aircraft - Day Scenario) and maritime (Passenger Ship -
Night Scenario) severe accidents at open sea. In particular, both scenarios are
interrelated and mutually corresponded with the First and Second Phase, of the
exercise “ARGONAUT 2015”, which dealt with the implementation of the National
Plan “ESTIA”; mass evacuation of civilians from the Middle East towards the
reception centers in the Republic of Cyprus.
The training will entirely focus on SAR
Operations, Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), and also associated SAR issues that
might arise either on passenger ships or aircrafts, during population
evacuation operations, in the Eastern Mediterranean.
During the SAR PHASE, the Crisis Management
Coordinating Team, which consists 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 incidents.
Press Office, 26 May
2015
