International Mine Countermeasures Exercise 2013 Begins

More than 40 countries, including the United States, are taking part in this year’s International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) which runs May 6-30 in the Gulf Region.

Dubbed as the largest exercise of its kind in the Persian Gulf, IMCMEX-13 will carry out a wide spectrum of defensive operations designed to protect international commerce and trade; mine countermeasures, maritime security operations (MSO) and maritime infrastructure protection (MIP).

The exercise is hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/U.S. 5th Fleet and will be conducted in three phases: a three-day symposium on maritime infrastructure protection, an afloat operations phase, and a re-integration phase where participants discuss best practices and lessons learned for future exercises. It will showcase the participation of 35 ships, 18 Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), and over 100 100 explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) divers.

“We are very pleased to see that more than 40 nations have joined us here to take part in this opportunity to enhance international naval capability to preserve freedom of navigation in international waterways,” said Vice Admiral John W. Miller, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/commander, U.S. 5th Fleet. “If 41 nations are willing to come here and practice MCM, just imagine how effective the global mine response would be if someone actually put mines in the water.”

New to IMCMEX-13 is the introduction of shipping escort and visit, board, search and seizure operations which will include representatives from maritime shipping industry who were involved in exercise planning and will play a significant role in shipping escort events. In addition, industry representatives will lead an oil spill response table-top discussion.

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