Organized by the Department of Fisheries, jointly with the Royal Navy, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Air Force (FRA) and Civil Protection, this exercise will take place off the port of Tangier Med. It consists of a life-size rescue operation, featuring a struggling passenger ship requiring the emergency evacuation of 50 people, including many injured.

This exercise that will take place on Thursday, aims to improve the level of coordination between the various stakeholders for efficient use of sea, air and land capabilities and offers a new opportunity to train crews of the sea and air rescue units.

To this end, the organizers will deploy their means of intervention to test their ability to save people in trouble at sea and quickly provide them with medical care and administrative support, once transported to port.

The drill is also an opportunity for all partners to implement the procedures for conducting and managing complex search and rescue operations enacted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"This exercise meets our constant concern to improve the skills of the coordinators and rescuers for the management of a major sea event," said Ahmed El Kohen from the Department of Fisheries in remarks during a national seminar on air and sea rescue in Morocco, held on the sidelines of this exercise.

The various exercises organized in the past have helped strengthen the national search and rescue service, he went on, adding that in 2021, 843 sailors and 12,449 candidates for illegal migration were rescued.