MOSCOW, March 31. /ITAR-TASS/. Naval ships of Russia, Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, Australia and the Philippines have started the first episode of Komodo 2014 multilateral naval exercise, in which they simulate a search and rescue operation in the South China Sea, Russian Pacific Fleet spokesman, Captain First Rank Roman Martov has said.

The naval ships involved in the imaginary operation moved towards Natuna Island early on Monday, he said. “An exchange of search and rescue helicopters will be the next episode,” Martov added. He said on the first day of the active phase of the maneuvers, helicopters from the Russian anti-submarine destroyer Marshal Shaposhnikov, the Indonesian frigate Yos Sudarso and the Japanese destroyer Akebono would be landing in turn on naval ships to disembark rescue teams. In the evening, ships of the multinational forces will have a communications exercise.

On Tuesday, the exercise will continue off Natuna. “Seamen from several countries of the Asia-Pacific region will hold an operation to evacuate people after an imaginary tsunami. They will be evacuated from the site of the calamity on ship-based helicopters,” Martov said.

An official ceremony launching Komodo 2014 was held on Batam Island on Sunday.

A squadron of Russian Pacific Fleet’s ships takes part in the exercise, including the Marshal Shaposhnikov, the Irkut tanker and the Alatau service ship.

The exercise will run until April 3.