HONOLULU – Navy Waterfront Operations, Coast Guard and Ocean Safety crews completed the 2012 Search and Rescue Exercise in Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Wednesday.
The exercise consisted of involved agency crews searching for several simulated distressed people in the water, and a recreational vessel with an injured operator.
Operations tested the ability to coordinate and execute joint search and rescue in the Hawaiian Islands. Recent implementation of modernized communication systems allow each agency to work on compatible radio frequencies, maximizing the use of each participant’s unique skills and capabilities.
The Coast Guard has recently formalized search and rescue coordination with local first responder agencies through the signing of memorandums of agreement to improve interagency communication. This exercise demonstrated the unique capabilities of each partner agency.
Each agency succeeded in accomplishing their roles. The rescue phase was completed over and hour ahead of schedule, crews having located and recovered all simulated missing and injured.
