The Navy, through the Funchal Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Subcentre, carried out 10 missions in the first six months of this year, saving eleven lives.
On a national level, the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centres of Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, and the Funchal Subcentre coordinated during the same period, 210 maritime search and rescue actions that resulted in 215 lives saved.
The Navy stresses that the success of the search and rescue system works because of the different organisations that commit manpower and resources, namely: the Portuguese Navy, the National Maritime Authority (AMN), the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), and other resources and means belonging to the Auxiliary Structure of the National Search and Rescue System, in particular the National Institute of Medical Emergency – Centre for Guidance of Urgent Patients at Sea (INEM CODU-MAR), the National and Regional Civil Protection and Fire Services, the Maritime and Port Administrations, among other bodies.
It also highlights the support provided by merchant ships in search and rescue actions, which often deviate from their trade routes to provide the necessary assistance. This is always coordinated by the National Centres – MRCC Lisboa and MRCC Delgada.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Photo: JM
