USCG to Assist Jamaica with Mass Rescue Planning

Jamaica’s readiness for Mass Rescue Operations (MRO) in its maritime space will be boosted July 22-24, 2014 with the assistance of a subject matter expert from the U.S. Coast Guard, who will conduct a comprehensive training workshop for representatives with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies within the Government of Jamaica.

The island is a key destination for cruise ships and a major air transportation hub. Therefore the country’s ability and readiness to respond to an incident which would entail a mass response within our shared maritime domain, is of paramount importance to the region and neighboring states. Recent disasters involving the Costa Concordia in Italy in 2012 and the SEWOL ferry incident in the Republic of Korea on April 16, 2014, are among those incidents which have spurred the GOJ to take proactive steps.

The Maritime Authority of Jamaica (MAJ) coordinated the request for assistance from the United States (U.S.) Coast Guard through the U.S. Military Liaison Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kingston. In turn, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC committed to provide the expert assistance to Jamaica and nominated the expert to conduct the training assistance.

The Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard has responsibility for the national maritime operations search and rescue, while the Office of Disaster Preparedness (ODPEM) has the ultimate responsibility for overall disaster and emergency actions preparedness. However, the MAJ, as Jamaica’s maritime administration and the focal point for shipping safety and pollution prevention, is the maritime lead agency which will coordinate the initial training and development of a contingency plan, along with the active participation of the relevant agencies.