Australia and Indonesia Undertake Search and Rescue Exercise

Australia and Indonesia will this week undertake a joint Search and Rescue exercise in Merauke, Papua, involving the deployment of personnel from Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue body (BASARNAS) and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, search and rescue aircraft and logistic support for deployed assets and personnel.

The exercise runs from 17 to 20 November and is part of Australia’s ongoing work with Indonesian Government agencies to improve overall transport safety in Indonesia.

It follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in January this year between the Australian Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, and Indonesian Minister for Transportation, Jusman Syafi’i Djamal, which provided the basis for a A$24 million bilateral package of assistance over three years.

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, said this search and rescue training illustrates the high levels of cooperation and progress being made under the transport safety assistance program.

Australia will deploy Dornier search and rescue aircraft equipped with droppable life rafts and other supplies while BASARNAS will use naval vessels and BASARNAS rescue boats for the exercise.

Four graduates from the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinators course held in Denpasar in October this year sponsored under the Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package will be involved in the exercise.

This project is one of several activities being undertaken under the Indonesia Transport Safety Assistance Package including aircraft and aerodrome safety inspector mentoring; improving air traffic management services in Indonesia; provision of expertise and guidance to enhance Indonesia’s capacity to undertake investigations of transport accidents; and marine safety training and ferry safety.

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Jenny Dee, Counsellor (Public Affairs) tel. (021) 2550 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175