MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax-AVN) - During a Russian-Norwegian naval exercise in the Barents Sea, rescuers for the first time pulled out of the water not only mannequins but also real humans, Northern Fleet spokesman 2nd rank Captain Yevgeny Kirillov told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.
"This early morning saw the closing of the main active phase of the Barents 2012 exercise conducted by the Russian and Norwegian search and rescue forces, which focused on helping ship and aircraft crews in distress in the Barents Sea," Kirillov said.
Under the exercise scenario, all naval forces of both countries were due to gather at one place in the Barents Sea, he said. The active phase began after the ships received an SOS signal from the location of a "burning vessel" which subsequently sank. The ship's six crewmembers managed to embark a life raft, but nine other people found themselves in water.
The situation at the scene was examined by Northern Fleet's Ilyushin Il-38 and Norwegian Orion aircraft, Kirillov added.
For the first time Kamov Ka-27 and Sea Lynx helicopter crews airlifted from the sea not only mannequins but also six Norwegian volunteers who were later taken onboard the ships.
The search and rescue forces involved in the exercise on both sides included seven ships and vessels and four aircraft, the officer said.