Search and Rescue training could save lives

By Ilia L. Likou 20 January 2017, 12:00AM

An intensive three-day Search and Rescue training for the Maritime Unit of the Police ended on Wednesday.

The training was delivered by two senior staff members from the Rescue Coordination Centre in New Zealand.

Training Manager, Kevin Banaghan was assisted by Watch Leader, Dave Wilson.

He said the short course was conducted at the request of the Police Maritime Wing.

“The trainees worked very hard throughout the course and achieved some excellent result,” Mr. Banaghan said.

“I am confident that if a person is reported missing or in distress, the Samoa Police Maritime Wing are in a far better place to respond to coordinate a response.

“There is still some work to be done around general maritime safety and S.A.R prevention but I am confident, given time, Samoa will improve in this area also.” 

The focus on the training was on search and rescue (S.A.R) governance, S.A.R Coordination, S.A.R response and general maritime safety.

 Some of the topics and discussions were around; Global S.A.R Systems, Technology in S.A.R, Search planning and information gathering.

The course was well supported by Police and other authorities including government ministries such as Fire Services, Ministry of Works Technology and Infrastructure, Samoa Ports Authority and representatives from the commercial sector.

The course finished with a day long S.A.R Exercise where all trainees had to work together to solve complicated S.A.R incident.

By Ilia L. Likou 20 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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