The first NATO Coordinator Rescue Force (CRF) course was hosted by the Italian Submarine Flotilla in the Submarine School in Taranto Naval base in the first two weeks of September 2020. The course was organised by the Italian Navy and ISMERLO (International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office).

The course is a response to an important need raised by the Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group (SMERWG). The course is intended to prepare specialists who could be called upon to assist or operate in a submarine rescue operation. The course covered Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) related publications, alerting procedures, knowledge of rescue assets, human and psychological factors, scenario training, website training and so forth.

The teaching was conducted jointly by international Lecturers from ISMERLO and Italian Officers representing subject matter experts within hyperbaric medicine, submarine rescue, psychology/human factors, logistics, diving, and media handling. Representatives from submarine rescue assets (DRASS and NSRS) were also represented.

During the two course weeks the participants were also able to visit the Grottaglie Airbase, The Hyperbaric Centre of Taranto and the COSPAS-SARSAT station of Bari (for the location of distressed signals).

Next CRF course is planned to be held in Taranto, Italy medio April 2021

POC:

LtCdr Nick Saumuls; n.samuls@mc.nato.int

CDR Espen Engebretsen; espen.engebretsen@mc.nato.int