Representatives
from more than 30 nations will gather May 6-30 in Bahrain and waters
of the Gulf region for International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX)
13. The largest exercise of its kind in the region, IMCMEX 13 will exercise
a wide spectrum of defensive operations designed to protect international
commerce and trade; mine countermeasures, maritime security operations
(MSO) and maritime infrastructure protection (MIP).
"This multidisciplinary defense exercise is focused on maritime
security for commerce and trade from the port of origin to the port
of arrival," said Commodore Simon Ancona, deputy commander, Combined
Maritime Forces, and commander of this year's International Maritime
Exercise Force (IMEF). "Our planners have included events that
address more of the security picture than just mines on the high seas."
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Hosted
by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/U.S. 5th Fleet, IMCMEX
13 will be conducted in three phases: a three-day symposium on maritime
infrastructure protection, an afloat operations phase, and a re-integration
phase where participants discuss best practices and lessons learned
for future exercises.
Similar to last year, participants will exercise the afloat staging
base concept aboard USS Ponce (AFSB(I) 15) and RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009),
and will cover surface mine countermeasures, mine hunting and airborne
mine countermeasures operations, international explosive ordnance disposal
training, diving operations, small-boat exercises, unmanned aerial vehicle
operations, unmanned underwater vehicle operations and port clearance
operations.
New to this year's exercise, MSO will introduce shipping escort, and
visit, board, search and seizure operations. Industry representatives
will also lead an oil spill response table-top discussion during the
exercise.
The MIP portion of the exercise focuses on protecting maritime points
of origin and arrival, such as ports or offshore terminals. This portion
of the exercise will include shore and harbor security operations; visit,
board, search and seizure teams; and specialized aircraft.
By U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs |
