The 2026 Summer SMERWG took place at Esquimalt Naval Base in Victoria, Canada 22-25 Jun 26. 114 delegates from 21 Nations and 3 organisations participated in the working group in 3 different syndicates (Operations, Technical and Medical) all contributing to the development and improvement of Submarine Escape & Rescue doctrine, equipment and capabilities. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our chairman from the last few years, Cdr Manfred Grabienski, but welcomed our new Chair, Cdr Nick Samuels and we all look forward to working with Nick in the coming years. Thank you to our hosts, Canada, and we look forward to Chile hosting our winter 27 meeting early next year.

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.