The training day in Bulgarian territorial waters demonstrates effective interaction between all the forces and means involved in dealing with a serious incident. The exercise showed a reaction to an incident at sea with two vessels, including a biofuel tanker and a tourist ship, injured and the need for immediate evacuation. The aim was to work out the main elements of the National Search and Rescue Plan to ensure effective risk management through partnership and better coordination between all participants.
Operational synchrony is of utmost importance in the occurrence of accidents, and improving the organization and improving the skills to use the capabilities of search and rescue structures would lead to a quick and timely response with small consequences, DG "Emergency and Rescue Service" Chief Director Admiral Rumen Nikolov.
An incident was simulated between two vessels 2 nautical miles from Lighthouse Burgas. At the approach of m/v "TAGANI" to enter the port of Burgas, a failure of the steering machine occurs. As a result, there is a collision with a small tourist ship "FORTUNA" leaving the port. There are 12 crew members on board the tanker and 42 crew members on board the FORTUNA (crew and passengers). Immediate action is taken by the captains of the two ships to report a disaster to the Varna coastal station for the incident. It is found that there are holes in the bow of both the tanker and the tourist boat. Two of the sailors on the tanker suffer severe injuries and require medical evacuation. Due to the intrusion of water into the hull of the tourist boat, the crew and passengers must be evacuated immediately. An eyewitness from the central beach in Burgas reports on 112 that he has noticed a red flare over the sea.
The responsible institutions of the Maritime Administration – Burgas, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center, the Black Sea Rescue Facilities, the Port Infrastructure Company, the District Directorate of the Ministry of Interior-Burgas, the Border PoliceDirectorate, the National System 112, the Navy, the Fire Safety and Protection of the PopulationDirectorate, the Bulgarian Red Cross, the Emergency Medical Assistance Center and the Municipality of Burgas take coordinated actions to control the situation. Immediate evacuation of the passengers and crews of the two motor ships is carried out and the necessary medical assistance is provided.
The demonstration of interoperability, rapid response and coordination between the naval forces, rescue centres and health services to provide routine communication lines and alerting procedures in crisis situations was successfully conducted during the joint drill on a maritime emergency rescue operation in the Bulgarian Maritime Responsible Region.
