Arctic SAR Readiness Put to the Test
AECO Hosts Joint Event Addressing Emerging Threats
Reykjavík, Iceland – May 6, 2026 — The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), together with the Icelandic Coast Guard, successfully hosted the 2026 Joint Arctic Search and Rescue Event (JASE) marking 10 years since the first event was held.
Held in Reykjavík, May 5-6, the two-day event convened around 70 participants from coast guards, rescue coordination centers (RCCs), embassies, port and coastal authorities, and the expedition cruise industry to examine how changing geopolitical, technological, and environmental conditions are increasing the complexity of SAR operations in Arctic waters.
The event was organized by AECO and the Icelandic Coast Guard, in collaboration with the Canadian Coast Guard and MRCC Tórshavn in the Faroe Islands.
“The Arctic is changing fast, and so are the risks,” said Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director of AECO. “Events like JASE are essential for building shared understanding, trust, and operational readiness across the many actors who would be involved in a real incident.”
The Arctic remains a demanding operating environment, with limited margins and high consequences. JASE is based on the understanding that safety is established well before search and rescue is activated—through preparation, clear roles, realistic assessments of capabilities and limitations, and strong professional relationships. The 2026 program reflected this approach, combining expert briefings, panel discussions, and the tabletop exercise Frozen Silence, which tested coordination and decision‑making under severe conditions and degraded communications.
A central theme throughout the event was the growing importance of preparedness for non-traditional and emerging threats, including cyber security risks such as GNSS interference and satellite disruption, as well as the need to strengthen cooperation and build on partnerships between like-minded actors in a time of evolving challenges.
The discussions also highlighted that collaboration cannot be taken for granted. In a more uncertain geopolitical context, predictability is reduced and coordination may become more constrained, making continued investment in cooperation—through joint training, shared planning, mutual support arrangements, and open dialogue—essential.
“The strength of Arctic search and rescue lies in cooperation,” said Auðunn Kristinsson, Chief of Operations of the Icelandic Coast Guard. “By training together, sharing knowledge, and testing our systems through realistic scenarios, we improve our collective ability to respond when it matters most.”
From its inception, JASE has not been intended as a traditional conference, but as a practical forum for building relationships before an incident occurs. A central takeaway from JASE 2026 was clear: preparedness is not only about assets and plans, but about people, competence, and relationships built in advance.
For more information contact:
Frigg Jørgensen, Executive Director: frigg@aeco.no
The Secretariat: aeco@aeco.no
For event program go to:
Last update: 07. May 2026