Oilfield services and offshore drilling rig provider Saipem has taken part in a defence exercise organized by Cyprus in its exclusive economic zone. The Italian company’s Saipem 7000 semi-submersible crane vessel was a part of of one of the tested scenarios.
A multi-national exercise called Nemesis 2017 was carried out on Tuesday between 9 am and 2 pm local time.
Search and rescue units and personnel from Cyprus, Greece, Israel, France and the United Kingdom as well as the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and vessels of EDT Offshore and Saipem took part.
The scenarios of the four phases included the threats and emergency situations that might occur in the Eastern Mediterranean, boarding operations on oil/gas platform, evacuation and rescue operations, massive rescue operations due to naval accident, as well as anti-pollution operations within the area of responsibility of the Republic of Cyprus.
According to Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center, 12 warships, 8 aircraft and 3 vessels of the private sector participated in the exercise.
In specific, 1 Frigate and 1 Missile Boat of the Hellenic Navy, 1 Frigate of the French Navy, 1 Missile Boat and 4 Patrol Boats of the Israeli Navy, 2 Patrol Boats of the Navy Command of the National Guard and 2 of Port & Marine Police, the oil/gas platform SAIPEM 7000, the tanker of PETRONAV company «ALEXANDRIA» funded by the European Maritime Safety Agency (ΕMSA) and managed by the Department of Merchant Shipping, the support vessel “FLYING ENTERPRISE” of EDT Offshore company and 2 anti-pollution vessels of the Fisheries Department.
Also, 4 Helicopters of the Republic of Cyprus, 1 Hellenic ΑΒ-212, 1 British Bell Griffin as well as 2 Fixed winged aircrafts took part in the exercise.
According to the organizer, the exercise was successfully conducted, under rough sea conditions and the outcomes of the exercise will be evaluated and the Special National Plans “NEARCHOS” and “ORFEAS” will be amended, if necessary, for improving the planning and preparation of the governmental services of the Republic, to deal with the main threats related to maritime and energy security, within the EEZ of the Republic of Cyprus.