The Defence Ministry said that rescue naval units and SAR helicopters took part in the 3-hour exercise under the operational control of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Larnaca, in close cooperation with the 6th Fleet Command Task Force-65 of the U.S. Navy.

The objective of the exercise, dubbed ‘CYPUSA – 01/14’, was the planning, preparation and execution of a multinational joint SAR exercise, in order to promote personnel and rescue capabilities and readiness for missions and other humanitarian operations of Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The exercise scenarios included a maritime accident in the open sea, a ‘man overboard’ situation, ‘medevac’ emergency drills, helicopter deck landings on U.S. Navy ships, and other potential crises on board passenger or cargo ships in the region.

Source: Cyprus Mail