Special Rescue Team
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| Special Rescue Team | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1975–present |
| Country |  Japan |
| Branch | Japan Coast Guard |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Maritime Search and Rescue |
| Size | 41 |
| Part of | Directly under control of the Japan Coast Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Haneda Special Rescue Station, Tokyo, Japan |
| Nickname(s) | SRT or tokkyutai (特救隊) |
The Special Rescue Team (特殊救難隊, Tokushu Kyūnan Tai) is the elite search and rescue unit of the Japan Coast Guard. The team was established to respond to special maritime accidents and disasters.
On November 9, 1974, the Yuyo Maru No.10 (第十雄洋丸), a Japanese LPG tanker, collided with the Pacific Ares, a Liberian freighter, in Tokyo Bay (Yuyo Maru No.10 Incident). 3 hours after the collision, a major explosion and fire occurred on the tanker, which was a unique design carrying both naphtha and LPG. The naphtha fire lasted for a week before the Japan Self-Defense Forces sank the stricken vessel. The accident resulted in 33 deaths (28 on board Pacific Ares, 5 on board Yuyo Maru No.10) and 8 injuries.[1]
The Special Rescue Team (SRT) was established in October 1975, with an initial strength of 5 members, in response to this accident.[2] The team was initially trained by the Tokyo Fire Department's Special Rescue Team.
In April 1986, the SRT was shifted to its current location at the Haneda Special Rescue Station.[2]
Functions
The SRT is on stand-by around the clock, ready to carry out search and rescue operations nationwide, which demand sophisticated and specialised knowledge and skills. Such missions may involved firefighting on ships involving hazardous material and rescuing survivors from capsized or sinking vessels.[3]
