Strengthening Maritime Safety: PMPF Commanders Complete EUCAP SAR Seminar

EUCAP Somalia’s Field Office Puntland, in collaboration with a Maritime Adviser of Field Office Mogadishu, successfully concluded a 10-day Search and Rescue (SAR) seminar for 15 Commanders from the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) Maritime Police Unit (MPU).

The training aimed to strengthen PMPF Commanders’ operational capacity and enhance their ability to conduct effective maritime Search and Rescue operations. Topics included SAR legal frameworks with emphasis on human rights aspects, SAR planning and coordination, search patterns, man-overboard recovery manoeuvres, vessel emergencies, risk management, and SAR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), all delivered in line with the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manuals.

During the seminar, participants engaged in a two-phase exercise - a tabletop simulation followed by a live SAR practical at sea to practice and apply their knowledge and skills in a realistic environment.

This initiative underscores the Mission’s commitment to strengthening Puntland’s maritime safety, governance, and operational readiness through capacity-building and close cooperation with relevant Maritime Law Enforcement counterparts.