The exercise is aimed at drilling joint activities on rescuing crews of ships in distress. The exercise will involve helicopters and ships of the Norwegian Coast Guard, the Arctic Border Guard Department, the North Fleet and the Emergencies Ministry.
Under the exercise's legend, a Russian full-freezing trawler suffered distress and sank on the Norwegian territory in the Varanger Fjord. The ship's crew managed to signal the distress and Russian and Norwegian ships and helicopters were dispatched for rescue.
The distressed seamen will be traditionally imitated by dummies, which will be dropped on water in a certain sector of the fjord.
The main goal of the exercise is to drill joint activities on search and rescue of persons afloat, noted the Arctic Border Guard Department.
The Russian-Norwegian joint exercise Barents is held for the ninth time. The participating countries alternate in drafting plans and controlling the exercise. This year the exercise is commanded by Russia's coordination center.
The exercise will be accomplished after the last "seaman" is lifted from the water and brought to the shore.
