OREANDA-NEWS. Il-38 aircraft and Mi-8 helicopters will take part in the Russian-Norwegian Exercise Barents-2013.

The crew of rescue towboat SB-523 (part of the search-and-rescue unit of search and accident rescue operations administration of the Northern Fleet) started the preparation for the Russian-Norwegian Exercise Barents-2013". It will be held on June 4th – 7th 2013 in the water area of Barents Sea.

“The Barents exercise is held on an annual basis in accordance with the “Agreement between the Russian Government and the Norwegian Government on cooperation in search and rescue of people suffering distress in the Barents Sea”, - the official representative of the Northern fleet, Vadim Serga, said. - The Exercise is directed on a rotational basis by representatives of Russian and Norwegian SAR (Search and Rescue) services. This year's exercise will be directed by the Russian party”.

During Barents-2013 Russian and Norwegian SAR and OSR (Oil Spill Response) services will do drills in the area of search, rescue and evacuation of the crew members of vessels and aircraft in distress and relief of the consequences of an oil spill in the water area.