Navy

HMS Enterprise joins search and rescue exercise off Cyprus

HMS Enterprise has taken part in a search and rescue exercise with Cypriot partners in the Mediterranean.

The ship joined the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre, the Republic of Cyprus Police Aviation Unit, and 84 Squadron, based at RAF Akrotiri, for the annual training.

The exercise simulated the rescue of a missing person at sea and the evacuation of an injured crew member from the ship.

Commander Cecil Ladislaus, Commanding Officer of HMS Enterprise, said: "This sort of thing could happen to any mariner, anytime, anywhere. It is in our best interests to train and work together like this to ensure that we are ready."

HMS Enterprise had only recently returned to Limassol after a deployment to Beirut, Lebanon, following last month's explosion at the city's port.

She was tasked with carrying out work to establish the extent of the damage caused by the huge blast.

After returning to the Cyprus, the ship was joined by Stephen Lillie, the British High Commissioner, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Anastasios Paraskevopoulos, from the Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre, for the exercise.

HMS Enterprise worked alongside 84 Squadron and Cypriot forces during the exercise (Picture: Royal Navy).

During the training, a member of the Cyprus Navy joined HMS Enterprise before she sailed off the coast of Limassol.

They then searched and located the 'person' missing at sea, played by a dummy, before 84 Squadron was called on to lift them to safety from a helicopter.

HMS Enterprise then acted as if a member of their crew needed evacuating and again called 84 Squadron to winch them off the ship.

Major General Rob Thomson, Commander British Forces Cyprus, said crew from RAF Akrotiri’s 84 Squadron has worked alongside their Cypriot colleagues "on an almost daily basis", including fighting fires during the summer.

"To be able to utilise the capabilities of HMS Enterprise whilst it is moored in Cyprus was also an opportunity too good to miss," he said.

Cover image: HMS Enterprise with 84 Squadron and Cypriot forces during a search and rescue exercise in Cyprus (Picture: Royal Navy).