The meeting brought together around 120 representatives from more than 19 countries and institutions, who shared their main experiences and advances in the field.
The Chilean Navy participated in the annual summer session of submarine escape and rescue work meetings SMERWG (Submarine Escape and Rescue Working Group) in the city of Victoria, Canada, an international instance that brings together representatives of navies and organizations linked to the escape, search, intervention and rescue of damaged submarines.
During the meeting, delegates addressed operational, technical and medical matters associated with underwater rescue, international interoperability, capacity building and updating of procedures and standards.
The national delegation was made up of Lieutenant Commander Rodrigo Chávez, of the Rescue and Rescue Command, and Lieutenant Commander Jaime Herrera, of the Submarine Force, who represented the Institution in the plenary sessions and specialized panels held during the meeting.
During the activity, the Institution carried out a national update of its SUBSAR capabilities, exposing the progress made by the Chilean Navy in terms of doctrine, training, exercises, interoperability and progressive development of capabilities to face an underwater emergency. In this presentation, the experiences obtained during the SUBSAR LIVEX 2025 exercise were highlighted, as well as the permanent work aimed at strengthening national preparedness under international standards.
Another relevant milestone was the presentation of the Chilean Navy as the next host of the SMERWG 2027. In this instance, the general background of the future meeting, scheduled in Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, was announced, highlighting the logistical, naval and cultural conditions that the country offers to receive international delegations.
The approval of Chile as host of the next SMERWG is an important recognition of the active participation of the Chilean Navy in the international underwater rescue community and supports the Institution as a pioneer in this area at the regional level. In addition, it represents an opportunity to project national capacities, strengthen multinational cooperation and continue advancing in interoperability.
The participation of the national delegation in SMERWG 2026 reaffirms the commitment of the Chilean Navy to the safety of crews, international cooperation and the permanent improvement of its procedures for searching, intervening and rescuing submarines. In the same way, it consolidates the country’s role as a relevant actor in the regional and international SUBSAR field.