BarentsNews.com

Sea exercises “Barents - 2002” in Barents Sea are scheduled to 26-29th of August.

The press-service of the Ministry of Transport of Russian Federation has informed that from the Russian side these exercises will be leaded by the head of the Sea Rescue-coordination Centre of Murmansk, Victor Gordushov.

During the exercises it will be important to work out co-operation with Norwegians during the search and rescue operation at sea with aim to help distressed vessels.

In addition to the Ministry of Transport of Russian Federation, the Russian side will be represented by the Federal Frontier Service and the Rescue Service of Northern Fleet. To secure communication and co-ordination of whole operation, the Russian side is going to send the captain of Murmansk harbour, Alexander Dmitriev, to the Rescue-coordination Centre of Northern Norway in Bod?.

Furthermore, one captain-coordinator from Sea Rescue-coordination Centre of Murmansk will take part in exercises, as an observer, onboard of a participating vessel and later visit the harbour of Kirkenes (Norway) to evaluate the results.

We will remind our readers that such kind of exercises is taken place annually since 1986. According to the requirements of the convention regarding rescue at sea, Russia does regularly make mutual agreements regarding rescue at sea and co-operation. In 1995, the Russian and Norwegian governments have signed the agreement regarding co-operation in search for missing persons and rescue of distressing persons in Barents Sea.