It is announced that on Friday 27 January 2022, the inauguration of the Search and Rescue Training Center was held, under the auspices of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, in the presence of the Ministers of Defence and Transport, the Deputy Minister of Shipping, Foreign Ambassadors, Members of the Defence Committee of the Parliament of Representatives, as well as the Chief of the National Guard General Staff.
With the creation of this modern Training Center, the objective set by the Republic of Cyprus for the development of an international SAR training center, implementing the recommendations of the International Organization ICAO has been reached, covering the training gap in the field of Search and Rescue in the European area and, at the same time, the increased training needs of personnel involved in SAR operations due to the continuous migration flows.
The main mission of the SAR Training Center is to provide training to the personnel of the SAR system of the RoC and to personnel of foreign countries involved in Search and Rescue operations, including mass rescue operations, during which the effective cooperation of a large number of services under high-risk conditions is required.
The training rooms are equipped with modern equipment and simulation software in order to achieve a more effective and realistic practical training, as required by the international training standards of the International Organisations ICAO and IMO. The Centre’s systems are interconnected (visual and audio), simulating a SAR Operations’ Center, providing radar images, naval and airborne communication systems, distress alert systems, operational planning systems, as well as databases, while specially designed rooms, equipped with all operating and communication systems, simulate airplane cockpits and ship bridges.
The SAR Training Center in Cyprus, which was funded by European funds and specifically by the Internal Security Fund managed by the European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior, will be able to prepare and train effectively all those involved in SAR operations, both at National and International level, contributing significantly to the global effort for zero loss of life during SAR operations that arise due to the increased migration flows.