At the end of March, Monaco and France came together to run a large-scale search and rescue exercise involving 300 personnel, five aircraft and 19 waterborne vessels in the waters off the coast of Menton. The SAMAR MED 25 exercise, which simulated a plane crash at sea, sought to test the preparedness of emergency response teams in the region by mirroring a real-life crisis in the most realistic training environment possible.
The Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture, in collaboration with the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture and the Principality of Monaco, undertook a major sea-based preparedness exercise called SAMAR MED 25 on 26th March in a bid to test the region’s readiness in the case of a significant incident.
Held in advance of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC), which will take place in June in Nice, the exercise simulated a collision between a passenger plane en route from Venice to Nice with 106 people and a military helicopter carrying 10 passengers that had been deployed as part of UNOC security operations.
In line with the narrative, the alert of the crash was raised through multiple channels, including a distress beacon, a signal from the Cap Ferrat Naval Base and reports from eyewitnesses on land. These triggers activated the coordinated rescue response, setting in motion a complex network of emergency teams.
The exercise sought to assess the efficiency of decision-making, coordination and intervention procedures across various units. A total of five aircraft, 19 sea-based craft and 300 personnel were deployed to execute the operation. The drill also tested the interface between maritime and land-based authorities, where time was of the essence with regard to the swift medical care of survivors and injured victims.
Another central aspect of the exercise was implementing the Search and Rescue Western Mediterranean (SAR MEDOCC) agreement, which facilitates international cooperation between France, Italy, and Spain in maritime rescues. As such, multiple agencies participated in the operation. In addition to the Maritime Prefecture of the Mediterranean, the Alpes-Maritimes Prefecture, and the Principality of Monaco, the National Sea Rescue Society (SNSM), the Italian Air Force and the Italian Coast Guard were also involved at varying levels.
Prior to the exercise, Prince Albert II of Monaco visited one of the rescue ships that took part in SAMAR MED 25, La Loire. The Prince was given a tour of the vessel.
Officials have praised the dedication and expertise demonstrated by the teams involved in the exercise, hailing it as a resounding success. Lessons learned from the operation will contribute to even greater coordination and effectiveness in future rescue missions, particularly in the context of international events like the UNOC.
To see more photographs of the exercise, click on the images below:
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Photo source: Marine National de France