Sea-rescue-exercise strengthens preparedness in Greenland

By the Defence Command Denmark

Two and a half hours south of Nuuk, disaster strikes. The red cargo ship Tilioq Arctica, owned by Royal Arctic Line, veers off course and hits a reef. Passengers fall into the water. Others are thrown around the cargo ship, ending up with broken legs and other serious injuries.

A mayday signal is sent from the ship. And while the ship is stuck on the reef, people and a single raft drift slowly in all directions.

And even though it IS cold out on the ship Tilioq Arctica, fortunately it is only an exercise. The people in the water are dummies, and Tilioq has not hit a reef, but simply dropped anchor. However, the scenario is not unrealistic, and today's exercise has been organised by the Arctic Command to test and train the rescue services in Greenland.

"We practise this over and over again to be sharp and ready if an accident should happen one day," says Michael Senger, who is a naval captain and exercise leader for the Arctic Command.

The danish fregat Niels Juel sailing in Denmark. Photo: Nicklas Levin / Forsvaret

Today, the exercise is unusually large. It is taking place while the Danish Armed Forces have an increased presence in Greenland with helicopters, soldiers, fighter jets and the frigate Niels Juel. This makes it possible to draw on a range of resources to come to the aid of the red cargo ship.

Today, three of the Navy's warships are deployed along with a Seahawk helicopter. Air Greenland's rescue helicopter also plays a major role in the rescue operation.

The more units that have to work together on a sea rescue, the more complicated it becomes, and the more important it is to train for it," says Michael.

Greenland's nature is harsh, and it is difficult and time-consuming to get there. So for the Home Guard personnel, who are on the cargo ship and have been dropped off on an island a short distance away as shipwrecked survivors, it is an eye-opener to see how far away help is.

"It's thought-provoking that they haven't come yet to rescue us,’ says Jonas, 21, from the Home Guard District of Central and West Jutland, when the exercise is an hour old and there is still a long time to wait before help arrives. Jonas is playing a key role in today's exercise and thus has an important role to play. ‘It's a good idea that I can help the professionals train to become even better in this way. And then it's probably a bit of a boyhood dream to be rescued by a helicopter and flown away."

Photo: Nicklas Levin / Forsvaret

Strengthening NATO cooperation in the Arctic

When the Danish Armed Forces increase their presence in the area around Greenland with soldiers, aircraft, helicopters and a frigate, this helps to strengthen the NATO countries' ability to operate together in and around Greenland. In addition, members of the Norwegian and Swedish Home Guard will also participate in the exercises taking place in Greenland in the near future.

"Looking after Greenland is a big task, but it is an important one, which we are proud to carry out every single day," says Søren Andersen, head of the Arctic Command. "The increased military presence we are seeing right now also means more activities and exercises with close NATO allies in and around Greenland. The aim is to increase our combat strength, stability and preparedness in the region. By strengthening the defence of Greenland, we are strengthening NATO's entire northern flank."

In addition to the military defence of Greenland, the Armed Forces also perform an important task of surveillance and sovereignty enforcement in and around Greenland, as in the rest of the Kingdom. The Armed Forces also perform official duties in support of Greenlandic civil society and as a supplement to local emergency services and the police, including search and rescue (SAR), fisheries inspection and monitoring of the marine environment.

"Today's exercise shows once again how important it is that we train and practise together. There are many procedures that need to be in place and many cogs that need to work together for a large operation like this to succeed," says Michael Senger from Arctic Command.

All exercises and the increased presence are being carried out in close cooperation with the Greenlandic authorities and the Greenlandic government, Naalakkersuisut.