The Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) recently ran a planning exercise for Search and Rescue (SAR) at their Cape Town offices.
The aim of the exercise was to test the operational readiness of the MRCC to respond to any emergency situations that may arise with the expected increased number of ships that are expected to be operating within our waters over the next year as part of the preparations and also accommodation for the 2010 soccer world cup.
The exercise focused on a search for a reefer vessel lost at sea.
A South African Air force aircraft was requested to assist in the search and the relaying of emergency messages was broadcast via Cape Town Radio.
The exercise ran over a period of 24 hours and the search area spanned from the Indian Ocean to the mid Atlantic region of the South African search and rescue region of responsibility. There was no physical deployment – it was a “C3” exercise – Command Control Communication.
The main aim was for the MRCC to take the information available to them and pass it on to the correct SAR bodies. The simulated search was successful and the vessel was located.
The exercise highlighted the importance of regular Search and Rescue (SAR) operations training and will be used as a master plan for training opportunities that new recruits and associated search and rescue role-players will benefit from. Later this month an international exercise will take place between the South African MRCC and their Argentinean counterparts.
This joint exercise forms part of bilateral agreements on search and rescue between the two countries as they share a common search and rescue border.
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