International Exercise Adriatic Sea SARex/COMex 2026
SLOVENIA, September 25 - The exercise involved representatives and units of the maritime search and rescue authorities of Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. The activities also included the European agencies EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency), EFCA (European Fisheries Control Agency) and Frontex (European Border and Coast Guard Agency).
The Republic of Slovenia was represented by Arturo Steffé of the Slovenian Maritime Administration, who participated in the Joint Coordination Team (JCT). The team monitored the progress of the exercise, coordinated cooperation among the participating countries and agencies, and assessed information-sharing procedures between operational centres and other stakeholders.
Testing International Cooperation
The primary objective of the exercise was to evaluate the effectiveness of international cooperation in maritime search and rescue operations, the harmonization of procedures in accordance with the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR), and the interoperability of operational centres and units of the northern Adriatic countries.
Particular emphasis was placed on testing the use of the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), which enables secure and standardized exchange of maritime information among European countries and agencies, thereby contributing to an enhanced common operational picture at sea.
Simulation of a Maritime Accident
The exercise scenario involved a nighttime collision between a fishing vessel and a merchant ship in the waters off Grado. Following the collision, the fishing vessel was presumed sunk, while the merchant ship left the scene unidentified. An international search and rescue operation was launched, involving maritime and aerial assets from all three countries.
The operational phase of the exercise included the Italian patrol vessel Gregoretti, an Italian Coast Guard helicopter, search and rescue units from Italy, Slovenia and Croatia, the EFCA patrol vessel Ocean Sentinel, and operational centres in Trieste, Koper, Rijeka and Rome. The exercise also included a simulated medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and a test of information exchange through the CISE system.
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