The multinational exercise “NEMESIS 2021” took place today, Wednesday, November 3, 2021, within seas 1, 2, 8 and 9 of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus (KD).
A written statement from the Search and Rescue Coordination Center (KSED) states that “personnel from Cyprus, Greece, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Israel, Italy and Egypt participated in the exercise, as well as six private companies. Some of the scenarios of the exercise were attended from the premises of the Search-Rescue Coordination Center (KSED), in Larnaca, by the Ministers of Defense, Transport and Energy of the Republic of Cyprus, Charalambos Petridis, Giannis Karousos and Natasa Peleous , as well as representatives of the companies EXXONMOBIL, TOTAL, ENI and NOBLE, which are active in the Cypriot EEZ “.
It is added that the multinational exercise “NEMESIS 2021”, was held for the 8th consecutive year and is part of the preparation of all government agencies, which are involved in the implementation of the energy program of the Republic, in order to be prepared to deal with any emergency in hydrocarbon extraction platform. The general coordination of the planning and execution of the exercise was the KSED, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Shipping, the National Guard, the Cyprus Police and the Department of Fisheries “.
The exercise included scenarios for dealing with terrorist activity on a hydrocarbon mining platform, searching suspicious ships, firefighting on ships, releasing and airlifting the wounded, mass rescue due to abandonment of the platform, as well as confrontation.
According to the announcement, in order to deal with the scenarios of the exercise, the pilot application of three Special National Plans (ECAs) was required, which are included in the Basic National Crisis Plan of the Republic “ZENON”. Specifically, the ECA “ASPIDA” of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order was activated, which concerns countering terrorist action and the ECA “TEYKROS” of the Ministry of Defense, which concerns mass rescue after a maritime accident and the ECA “ORFEAS” of the Ministry dealing with marine pollution “.
It is noted that “the conclusions of the exercise and the pilot implementation of the three Special National Plans, were recorded and after being evaluated will be treated accordingly by all involved to further improve the procedures applied in cases of dealing with risk situations that may arise in the implementation our energy program “.
A total of 20 media outlets from foreign countries, 24 media outlets and Services of the Republic of Cyprus, 6 private companies and 2 International Organizations participated in the exercise. Specifically, a Greek Navy Frigate, five warships of the Naval Administration of the GEEF, two patrol boats of the Port and Maritime Police, the tanker “ALEXANDRIA” of the company PETRONAV, financed by the EMSA “, As well as a boat of the company VSS EPE, a boat of the company VTS Vasiliko and two boats of the company EDT Offshore for dealing with marine pollution and firefighting”.
Also participating in the exercise were four helicopters of the Republic of Cyprus (two from the MAEP and two from the 460 MED / GEEF), the French naval cooperation aircraft “ATLANTIQUE”, a helicopter and a special group for dealing with marine pollution in the United Kingdom. Helicopters, an Italian aircraft type “P-72” and an Italian unmanned aircraft (UAV), a type aircraft C-130 of the Hellenic Air Force, an American aircraft type P-8, an aircraft from the Department of Forestry, an unmanned Aircraft (UAV) of the 470 of the National Guard Aviation Command and an EMSA Drone “.
On the part of Special Operations Groups “participated the Special Counter-Terrorism Squad of the Motorized Immediate Action Unit of the Police, the Airborne Paratroopers Group of the 31st Hellenic Air Force, the 747th Special Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division Destroyers of the MYK of the Navy Administration of the Hellenic Navy, the Special Disaster Management Unit (EMAK) of the Fire Service, as well as specialized nurses of the Ambulance Service of the State Health Services Organization “.
Source: KYPE
