Dina Yehia
The Search and Rescue Centre at the Ministry of Defence conducted the national “Egypt-12” search and rescue exercise in Port Said, with the participation of naval and air force personnel, representatives of relevant ministries and executive agencies in the governorate, and the Egyptian Red Crescent, in co-operation with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The exercise simulated a container ship that had rescued a group of irregular migrants in distress at sea before colliding with an offshore oil platform off the coast of Port Said. The simulated incident resulted in deaths, injuries and 250 missing people of various nationalities, as well as an oil spill.
Following a distress signal, the centre deployed a helicopter, an aircraft operated by Petroleum Air Services, naval units and search and rescue teams to locate missing people and evacuate the injured. The operation also included marine pollution control, receiving survivors and providing them with the necessary medical and humanitarian assistance, in co-ordination with quarantine authorities and relevant agencies.
The exercise forms part of the Armed Forces’ efforts to enhance readiness and improve the efficiency of the response system for maritime accidents and emergencies, in co-ordination with state institutions, to protect lives and property against various risks.
