11/09/2026
On 10 September, coast guard authorities from Belgium, France and the Netherlands joined forces for SARex 2026, a large-scale search and rescue exercise over the North Sea.
Held as part of the EMSA-led Multipurpose Maritime Operation in La Manche and the Southern North Sea, the exercise demonstrated the practical value of European coast guard cooperation: national authorities and EU agencies working together, sharing information and coordinating assets across borders.
The scenario involved a simulated sinking small boat and tested a full multinational search and rescue response, coordinated by MRCC Ostend in close cooperation with counterparts in France and the Netherlands.
A particular focus was aerial coordination. Several aircraft operated simultaneously within the same designated airspace. The exercise also tested the Aircraft Coordinator (ACO) function, with coordination provided first from the ground and subsequently from the air. The vessels Sirius and The Belgian Navy’s BNS Pollux also supported the operation, while medical evacuation procedures were tested through the transfer of simulated casualties to Ostend and Koksijde.
The exercise was jointly planned by Belgium, France and the Netherlands together with EMSA, European Fisheries Control Agency - EFCA and Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, with a Joint Coordination Team led by EMSA following operations throughout. EMSA’s Integrated Maritime Services were also made available in support.
SARex 2026 forms part of four months of operational cooperation involving 11 national authorities and three EU agencies across nine coast guard functions.
Exercises such as SARex 2026 support closer operational cooperation between national coast guard authorities and EU agencies, helping to strengthen coordination and preparedness for maritime emergencies that may require a cross-border response.
Defensie - La Défense - Belgian Defence
Kustwacht Nederland
