The 2026 winter meeting of the Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group (SMERWG) was hosted by the UK and held in London 26-29 Jan 26. The 120 representatives from 18 different nations which included contributions from the Asia/Pacific area took part in a very successful meeting further highlighting the importance of international collaboration and ultimately enabling us all to enhance the knowledge across the global SMER network as well as creating and extending friendships. Many thanks to our hosts for an outstanding event.

On October 31, 2025, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) successfully concluded a pivotal Submarine Medicine Course in Halifax, NS, following a simulated submarine emergency. This advanced training aimed to strengthen the medical readiness of clinicians operating in the demanding and isolated environment of submarines.

The course featured highly realistic scenarios, including trauma management, treatment of decompression sickness, and psychological support for crew members—addressing both physical and mental health challenges. Medical support personnel from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, alongside students from Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, and Israel, collaborated in high-pressure drills to refine emergency response capabilities.

Training took place aboard a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV), equipped with multiple hyperbaric chambers and medical shelters on its flight deck to simulate a submarine rescue platform. A key focus of this year’s program was mental health readiness, complemented by integrated Public Affairs and Media training to ensure effective communication during crises.

The exercise underscored the critical importance of teamwork and interoperability among multinational partners. The successful completion of the Submarine Medicine Course and SUBSAR Exercise highlights the value of international collaboration and shared expertise in submarine medicine—enhancing global naval readiness to respond to maritime medical emergencies.

The first week of November, the Chilean Navy conducted an exercise in the Bay of Coronel, close to Concepcion on the Pacific Coast. The focus was on demonstrating and improving the Navy’s ability to locate a DISSUB as well as when located, conduct intervention operations like debris clearing and POD posting.

One submarine, an aircraft, several surface vessels, USVs, ROVs, divers and other assets were involved in the exercise.

The exercise provided a valuable opportunity for participants to collaborate and coordinate in a multinational context, reflecting ISMERLO’s commitment to fostering worldwide cooperation in submarine rescue and safety.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) hosted Exercise Pacific Reach, a multinational Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER) exercise, from 15 to 29 September 2025. Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 aims were to develop regional SMER capabilities, strengthen interoperability in submarine rescue operations, and enhance the safety of submariners at sea. This is the third time that the RSN has hosted the exercise, having previously done so in 2000 and 2010. This year’s exercise is the ninth in the series, and the largest edition to date.

This year’s exercise saw the participation of 17 countries with approximately 600 participants, comprising Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Thailand, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, as well as the International Submarine Escape and Rescue Liaison Office (ISMERLO). The RSN participated in the exercise with an Invincible-class submarine, RSS Invincible, and a submarine support rescue vessel, MV Swift Rescue, embarked with a submarine rescue vehicle, Deep Search and Rescue Six (DSAR 6). Other participating assets include submarines from Japan, JS Kuroshio, and the Republic of Korea, ROKS Shin Dol-Seok. Submarine rescue motherships (MOSHIPs) included INS Nistar from India, JS Chiyoda from Japan, and MV Mega Bakti from Malaysia.

Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 consisted of a shore phase and a sea phase. The shore phase comprised a medical symposium, national submarine rescue system conference, as well as a mass evacuation exercise (MASSEVEX) that simulated the evacuation and medical treatment of personnel from a distressed submarine. Serials during the sea phase tested the procedures and interoperability of the participating submarine rescue MOSHIPs with submarines, as well as strengthen understanding and confidence on a common set of rescue procedures.

Speaking at the opening of the exercise, the RSN’s Fleet Commander and Exercise Director for Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, Rear Admiral (RADM) Kwan Hon Chuong, said, “A distressed submarine (DISSUB) situation is always a race against time. The submarines can be far, with exact location unknown. Timely intervention and rescue, with partners within and around the region is of utmost importance. Successful submarine rescue is dependant not only on having capable rescue platforms and systems, but also consistent cooperation, aligned processes and effective interoperability with like-minded partners.”