Israel, Cyprus, Greece Conduct Joint Mediterranean Oil Spill Drills
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israel, Cyprus, and Greece conducted their first joint maritime exercise on November 11 in Cypriot waters to test responses to a major oil spill. The drill involved naval vessels, aircraft, and a joint command center to practice coordinated actions. The exercise, supported by EMSA, aims to enhance regional cooperation in environmental protection and is part of Israel's national preparedness plan. Officials highlighted the importance of cross-border coordination for safeguarding shared marine environments.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israel, Cyprus, and Greece held joint maritime drills on November 11 to test oil spill response capabilities.
- The exercise simulated a major environmental disaster in the Mediterranean Sea using naval and air assets.
- A joint command center in Cyprus facilitated real-time data sharing and resource allocation among the three nations.
- The drill was observed by environmental, defense, and justice ministers from Israel and Cyprus, among other dignitaries.
- The cooperation is based on a 2018 trilateral agreement and aims to protect shared marine ecosystems.
- Israeli Minister Idit Silman stressed the need for cross-border coordination due to the nature of water pollution.
Israel, Cyprus, and Greece have successfully completed their first joint maritime exercise in the open sea, simulating a response to a major oil spill. The drill, held on November 11 in Cypriot territorial waters, involved air and sea assets from all three nations.
The exercise aimed to test the coordinated actions of specialists from the three countries in the event of a large-scale environmental disaster in the Mediterranean Sea, according to Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection. The maritime phase included the Israeli research vessel "Bat-Galim," which practiced dispersing a simulated oil slick using chemical agents. This was supported by an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft and two spray planes. Simultaneously, a joint command center was established in Cyprus, where representatives from the three nations practiced real-time data exchange, incident assessment, and resource allocation.
This was the first such open-sea exercise for the regional group, building on previous tabletop drills and seminars. The event was observed by several high-ranking officials, including Israel's Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman, Cyprus's Ministers of Defence Vasilis Palmas, Environment Christos Senekis, and Justice Kostas Fitiris, as well as the Deputy Ambassador of Greece. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) assisted in the organization, with notable attendance from the U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus, the Israeli Ambassador Shuli Davidovich, and diplomats from the UK, Italy, France, and Egypt.
Israel's delegation was led by Fred Arzuan, Head of the National Marine Environment Protection Unit, accompanied by other ministry officials. Specialists from Israel's Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Shipping and Ports Authority, marine police, and naval forces participated. The partnership is based on a 2018 trilateral agreement under the Barcelona Convention and the REMPEC regional center. For Israel, the exercise was also part of its national maritime oil spill preparedness plan (TLMAT).
Minister Silman emphasized the transboundary nature of water pollution, stating that close coordination among neighbors is crucial for protecting shared ecosystems and coastlines. Fred Arzuan added that practicing communication between ships, aircraft, and command centers transforms theoretical agreements into practical tools for environmental protection during real emergencies.
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