The Police’s Karhu Special Intervention Unit and the Finnish Border Guard’s 5th Special Intervention Unit are organising a special maritime exercise. Other authorities and helicopters are also involved in the exercise.
The exercise will begin at 10 am on Monday 12 May and end at 6 pm on Thursday 15 May. The exercise will take place during the day.
The Utti Jaeger Regiment and the Finnish Border Guard’s Special Intervention Units are among the authorities participating in the exercise alongside the Police Special Intervention Unit. International police and border forces from Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Denmark, among others, will also participate in the exercise.
The exercise will be visible at sea and in the air
Exercises will take place in Santahamina, on islands off the coast of Helsinki, and on passenger ships. The exercise involves helicopters from the Finnish Defence Forces, the Finnish Border Guard, and the Danish Air Force, and the helicopters may be visible during the week’s exercises.
On Monday 12 May, exercises will take place in Santahamina. On Tuesday 13 May and Wednesday 14 May, exercises will occur in Santahamina, on the islands off the coast of Helsinki, and in Katajanokka. Some exercises will take place at sea, on a cruise ship sailing in the Gulf of Finland. On Thursday 15 May, exercises will take place in the Helsinki archipelago and on a cruise ship.
Hundreds of operators
Training munitions will be used during the exercise, which may cause noise in the surrounding area.
The personnel involved in the exercise will wear combat gear and carry weapons. The trainers will wear yellow high-visibility vests. The troops will reach the exercise sites by boat and helicopter.
The exercise will use target personnel who will act as targets who must be apprehended or injured people who need help.
Approximately 200 people will participate in the exercise.
Seamless cooperation is critical in real-life situations
Special operations at sea require steadfast cooperation between authorities. There are regular exercises to simulate incidents and ensure they can be resolved seamlessly when the time comes.
An example of one such situation was on Christmas Day 2024, when helicopters from the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Defence Forces were used in a maritime operation led by the Helsinki Police Department.
The Police’s Karhu Special Intervention Unit and the Finnish Border Guard's Special Intervention Unit rappelled from helicopters onto a ship's deck and took control of the vessel in the night between Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Even the most challenging situations cannot catch the authorities off guard when they practise and prepare for them.
“The ability of Finnish authorities to work together is unique on an international level. Close cooperation with international partners is also essential in today’s complex security environment,” says Chief Inspector Juha Hietala, head of the Karhu Special Intervention Unit.
