EU Coast Guards Stage Largest-Ever Drill Amid Rising Mediterranean Threats
COASTEX 2026 exercise off Sicily tested responses to oil spills, migrant rescues and underwater sabotage.
The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) and multiple European partners conducted a large-scale maritime exercise off the coast of Sicily on 6 October, testing their ability to respond to simultaneous emergencies at sea. The drill, known as COASTEX 2026, took place during the plenary session of the European Coast Guard Functions Forum (ECGFF), chaired this year by the Italian Coast Guard.
More than 20 Italian authorities participated, alongside three EU agencies and units from Malta, Portugal, and Spain. Observers from across Europe attended the event, which simulated a complex scenario evolving from a routine inspection into a multi-faceted crisis.
From fisheries control to a multi-agency emergency: Coast
The exercise began with a demonstration for ECGFF delegates, showcasing a rescue operation assisted by an uncrewed surface vessel, a helicopter medical evacuation, and a boarding of EMSA’s oil spill response vessel Adelia by the Guardia di Finanza.
Meanwhile, EMSA provided real-time maritime situational awareness, sharing data with Italian authorities about a merchant vessel exhibiting suspicious behavior near critical underwater infrastructure.
The afternoon’s live exercise unfolded in stages. First, the European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) and Italian Coast Guard teams inspected two fishing vessels after detecting fish-aggregating devices in an unusual location. The operation was supported by EMSA’s remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), deployed from the vessel Ocean Sentinel, and satellite imagery of the area.
The inspection revealed unauthorized individuals on board, leading to the discovery of an overcrowded skiff in distress. This triggered a coordinated search-and-rescue effort involving Italian, Spanish, and EU assets.
The scenario escalated further when a fleeing vessel collided with an oil tanker, causing a simulated spill near the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area. EMSA deployed Adelia and Ocean Sentinel, equipped with specialized response gear. The Italian Navy’s Vega and the anti-pollution vessel Ievoli Red, under the coordination of the Catania Maritime Directorate, contained and recovered the simulated pollution. EMSA’s RPAS and CleanSeaNet satellite monitoring confirmed the spill’s extent and later verified the cleanup.
The final phase involved maritime security, with divers and a Portuguese remotely operated vehicle (ROV) team locating simulated explosive devices. Italian Navy and Maltese specialists successfully neutralized the threats.
Lessons and next steps for European maritime cooperation
Throughout the exercise, a Frontex surveillance aircraft, EMSA’s RPAS, and Italian Coast Guard systems transmitted live footage to the International Coordination Room, ensuring a shared operational picture.
During the ECGFF plenary, EMSA, EFCA, and Frontex each led workshops addressing maritime challenges, from geopolitical shifts to capacity-building for coast guard operations. On 7 October, the three agencies joined a panel with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) to discuss synergies and emerging technologies.
The event concluded with the handover of the ECGFF chairmanship from the Italian Coast Guard to Spain’s Directorate General for Merchant Marine. The forum, a voluntary and non-binding platform, brings together national authorities performing coast guard functions in EU and Schengen-associated countries, with an annually rotating chair.
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