site.btaBurgas Port Drill Rehearses Evacuation after Simulated Collision
A training exercise simulating a maritime incident was held at Port Burgas (on the Black Sea), the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced here on Tuesday. The drill, carried out in Bulgarian territorial waters, demonstrated effective coordination among all involved forces and resources in responding to a major maritime emergency.
The exercise simulated a collision at sea involving two vessels, a biofuel tanker and a passenger ship, requiring immediate evacuation due to injuries and critical conditions. The aim was to practice key elements of the National Search and Rescue Plan and ensure effective risk management through partnership and improved coordination among all participants.
“Operational synchronization is crucial when incidents occur. Enhancing organizational structure and improving the skills required to deploy search and rescue capabilities ensures a swift and timely response with minimal consequences,” Rumen Nikolov, head of the General Directorate Search and Rescue Activity at the Executive Agency Maritime Administration, said.
The simulated incident took place two nautical miles off the Burgas lighthouse and involved a tanker with a 12-member crew and the manoeuvring vessel FORTUNA carrying 42 people, crew and passengers.
The responsible institutions, including the Executive Agency Maritime Administration – Burgas, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, the Black Sea Rescue Department of the General Directorate Search and Rescue Activity, the Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company, the Burgas Regional Directorate of the Interior Ministry, the General Directorate Border Police, National Emergency Number 112, the Navy, the Regional Directorate for Fire Safety and Civil Protection, the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Emergency Medical Care Centre, and Burgas Municipality, carried out coordinated actions to manage the situation. Immediate evacuation of both crews and passengers was performed, and the necessary medical aid was provided.
The joint exercise successfully demonstrated interoperability, rapid response, and coordination between naval forces, rescue centres, and medical services, ensuring the reliability of communication lines and signalling procedures during crisis situations within the Bulgarian maritime search and rescue region, the statement concluded.
/MY/
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