A joint and interministerial exercise based on counter-terrorism

This crisis management training, named ESTEREL, focused on maritime counter-terrorism and took place at sea aboard a passenger ship and then in the grand port maritime de Marseille (GPMM). Regularly conducted by the ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattants off the coast of metropolitan France, this training allows units of the Marine nationale, specialized joint formations, and competent administrations to prepare and train together to protect human life, under the operational control of the préfet maritime. REALISTIC SCENARIO This exercise aims to maintain public order at sea to secure maritime areas under French sovereignty and jurisdiction and to remain ready to intervene quickly in operations that are by nature unpredictable.

The scenario was raised to a very high level of intensity and realism, requiring substantial material and human resources. In this context, a passenger ship from the La Méridionale company provided assistance as a mock target, through European co-financing under the Fonds pour la Sécurité Intérieure (FSI). At both central and local levels, the exercise mobilized nearly 500 people within the various crisis management bodies, specialized forces and resources, medical and rescue services, and judicial authorities and services, and used real role-players to simulate the role of both hostages and terrorists.

The continuity of State action across the land/sea interface and the transfer of authority between the préfet maritime de la Méditerranée and the préfet des Bouches-du-Rhône was simulated during this exercise, notably with the organization of the ship's reception in the grand port maritime de Marseille.

Trained in conditions as close to reality as possible, the deployed resources and involved services strengthened their expertise, interoperability, and knowledge of the environment and the protection of maritime approaches and French interests at sea. Photos Marine nationale.