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NATO's Search and Rescue Exercise Kicks Off in the Baltic Sea

NATO Allied Maritime Command

Apr 24 2025

NORTHWOOD, United Kingdom -- NATO's maritime search and rescue exercise, Dynamic Mercy, involving NATO's search and rescue facilities and units kicked off in the Baltic Sea April 28. Dynamic Mercy is an annual LIVEX exercise that rehearses Search and Rescue (SAR) scenarios essential for cross-region cooperation/interaction between military and civilian Rescue Coordination Centres and mobile SAR units. The exercise, led by NATO's Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), is designed to evaluate and improve search and rescue collaboration procedures with regional Allies and to enhance communication between Rescue Coordination Centres.

"Dynamic Mercy provides an important venue for NATO to bring regional Allies together and enhance cooperation in an integral search and rescue capability that often spans beyond national borders and boundaries of our nations, and requires multinational coordination," said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Thomas Yale, a lead exercise planner assigned to MARCOM. "While the search and rescue services of participating nations are structured and organized differently, they are all motivated by the desire to save lives."

The exercise provides an opportunity to practice and develop inter-regional and cross-boundary cooperation and coordination between the Rescue Coordination Centres of Allies in the Baltic region that have common Search and Rescue Region (SRR) boundaries. Regional rescue responders will also participate in the exercise, bringing national and civilian entities side-by-side with military units.

This year's iteration will occur in separate operation centres in the Baltic Sea and is scheduled to conclude May 9. Ships, units and personnel from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United States will train together in accordance with standards and procedures described in the international Search and Rescue Manual, IAMSAR.

Story by Public Affairs Office at MARCOM