Maritime exercise in Gulf of Finland Nov 5-16

The Utti Jager Regiment will organise a maritime activity exercise dubbed Shark 18 in the Gulf of Finland on November 5 to 16, said an official press release.

The two-week training will be conducted in the coastal and maritime environment area extending from west of Turku to offshore Porvoo. A Swedish flight detachment will also take part in the exercise.

The Utti Jaeger Regiment’s Helicopter Battalion will sustain a 24-hour on-duty readiness to provide inter-agency assistance. This executive assistance readiness also includes maritime rescue missions.

The objective of Shark 18 is to train the Helicopter Battalion’s aircrew in carrying out maritime rescues as well as operating in maritime conditions.

About 200 persons will be trained under the exercise. The main exercise equipments will be Army NH90 transport helicopters and MD500 light helicopters.

The Swedish flight detachment will be composed of approximately 20 persons and a NH90 transport helicopter.

Flight mission activities under the exercise will be operated round the clock.

The training will be partly imparted in cooperation with other authorities and interoperability partners.