Ponant's Le Commandant Charcot was at the centre of its second safety exercise in the polar region on 30SEP 2023.
According to Ponant, the 12-hour operation, which took place at Herschel Island in the Northwest Passage, was supported by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre based at 8 Wing Trenton (Ontario, Canada), run jointly by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). The operation also involved the U.S. Coast Guard District Seventeen and Air Station Kodiak (Alaska) and a command unit at the Ponant head office in Marseille (France).
"We carried out a first rescue exercise on the ice in September 2021 during the ship's trial voyage. This time, the operation took place in ice-free water. It's a world first that allowed us to test our procedures and equipment, as well as the coordination with the Canadian and American services," explained the Captain, Patrick Marchesseau, on Le Commandant Charcot.
"This joint exercise and sharing of our expertise is contributing to advances in safety for the entire polar maritime and tourism industry."
On board, 65 participants (including 24 passengers) were evacuated to an island in a heated lifeboat equipped with suits designed by Ponant.
The Ice Cube, used to transport survival kits, was pulled by the lifeboat and hoisted ashore, where polar shelters were set up.
The lifeboat was used as a hospital during the first part of the joint exercise.
The RCAF deployed a CC-130H Hercules, a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-138 Twin Otter. The U.S. Coast Guard deployed a C-130J Super Hercules and an MH-60T Jayhawk. The aircraft were used to drop survival equipment, parachute in rescue teams and evacuate participants.
Ponant said the exercise showcased extensive international collaboration to strengthen maritime safety standards and benefit the industry.
More information about Ponant on its website.
