AECO represents cruising industry in new Search and Rescue network.
The cruise industry will collaborate with authorities and researches developing the project Arctic Search and Rescue through participating in a new network of operators and stakeholders that togheter will work for a safe Arctic marine environment. With fundings from EU, the project will run for five years and include a live excersise at sea with cruising ships. As a AECO and ASCAR member, PolarQuest will provide with one of our cruising ships to the planned excersise, something we are very proud of and look forward to do!
The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) is one of 21 interational stakeholders and operators that togheter work to strenghten cooperation and innovation in security and emergency response in the Arctic and the North Atlantic, and the expedition cruise industry welcomes the opportunity to contribute to safe Arctic navigation. The network, called ASCAR, is led by Joint Rescue Coordination Center North-Norway, where Search and Rescue (SAR) will be an important focus area for the project. AECO, which represents the majority of expedition cruise operators that sail in Arctic waters, will work closely with authorities, SAR responders and researchers to determine how SAR preparedness and response can be strengthened and developed.
Frigg Jørgensen, Executive director of AECO, says that passenger ships has an important role in the work for a safe Arctic marine environment. “During Search and Rescue operations in remote parts of the Arctic, expedition cruise ships can be the first to arrive on site. Cruise ships carry food, water, medical supplies, doctors, numerous high speed small vessels and other resources that are useful in SAR operations. Previous tabletop exercises organized by AECO and SAR entities have shown that there is a potential for making better use of these resources. ARCSAR’s planned live exercise will be a valuable opportunity to continue to learn and improve cooperation.”