(NEWS) MLP Students Witness Live Search and Rescue Coordination in Chile

April

2013

MLP Students Witness Live Search and Rescue Coordination in Chile

Students of the Maritime Law and Policy (MLP) specialization unexpectedly became witnesses to a live search and rescue operation during their field study visit with the Dirección General del Territorio Maritimo y Marina Mercante (Directemar) in Chile.

The MLP group was being briefed on safety, security, and operational aspects of Directemar by Rear Admiral Ivan Valenzuela (Director of Maritime Safety, Security, and Operations, WMU alumnus, and WMU Board of Governors member) in the operations room of MRCC Chile when a video conference call from Punta Arenas was patched directly to the room.

The call was in anticipation of the arrival of Vice Admiral Enrique Larrañaga, Director General of Directemar, who was to take direct control of a rapidly unfolding emergency involving the Chinese fishing factory vessel "Kai Xin" that caught fire in the vicinity of Chile's Bernardo O'Higgins research base near the tip of the Antarctic peninsula. With all 97 crew having already been rescued, the Directemar had to focus on averting an environmental disaster since the fishing vessel was now adrift in the sensitive Antarctic waters. The group was present when Admiral Larrañaga made some critical decisions and instructions relating to the potential pollution incident, thereby offering the MLP students a rare opportunity of observing the coordination of a high profile search and rescue effort in real time.

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