ERT Garuda Rescue Nusantara Given a Warm Welcome After Competing at MERC 2024

The Garuda Rescue Nusantara (GRN) Emergency Response Team (ERT), just back from the Mining Emergency Response Competition (MERC) 2024 at Langley Park, Perth, Australia, was given a warm welcome by Dr. Ir. Hendra Gunawan, Director of Minerba Engineering and Environment and Head of Mine Inspectors. The welcome took place at the Minerba Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (4/12/) and was a moment of recognition for the team's dedication in representing Indonesia internationally.

Also present were the KESDM Minerba Mining Safety Coordinator Dwinanto Herlambang, PPA Director Sujoko Martin and ERT GRN Manager Adri Thanada.

In his remarks, Dr. Hendra expressed his pride in ERT Garuda Rescue Nusantara for the spirit and hard work shown throughout the prestigious competition.

"Semoga yang dilakukan ERT GRN dapat memotivasi Tim Tanggap Darurat dari perusahaan sektor ESDM lainnya untuk bisa berprestasi di ajang kompetisi internasional juga, Ajang seperti ini bukan hanya soal kompetisi, tetapi juga kesempatan untuk meningkatkan kapasitas tim penyelamat nasional dan belajar dari pengalaman internasional," said Dr. Ir. Hendra Gunawan.

ERT Garuda Rescue Nusantara, which is also the ERT of PT Putra Perkasa Abadi (PPA), competed against 16 emergency response teams from world-class companies operating in Australia and one team from South Africa. There were eight complex rescue scenarios, such as Confined Space Rescue, Emergency Response Team Readiness, Fire Fighting, First Aid, Hazmat, Road Crash Rescue, Vertical Rescue, and Incident Management. The competition tests not only technical skill but also team coordination, speed of response and the team's ability to handle a range of emergencies.

Unlike championships in Indonesia, where only the top three in a category are recognised, MERC gives awards to the five best teams. ERT GRN recorded an outstanding performance: 2nd place in the First Aid challenge, 4th in the Confined Space challenge, 5th in the Vertical Rescue challenge, 4th in Overall First Aid, and for the second time ERT GRN won MERC's special Best Spirit Team award.

The award, known as the Chewie award, goes to the team judged to have shown the highest fighting spirit during the competition.

In the individual categories, Hendrik Aprilianto and M. Jamaludin Al'Apgani also performed outstandingly, taking 4th place for Best Captain and Best Medic.

"Saya apresiasi selamat kepada tim atas pencapaian dan keberhasilannya, kita mendapatkan ilmu baru yang bermanfaat bagi kemajuan ERT di Indonesia, dan kami harapkan pengalaman bertanding di MERC dapat ditularkan kepada semua Tim Tanggap Darurat ESDM Siaga Bencana," said Dr. Ir. Hendra Gunawan.

PPA Director Sujoko Martin expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the achievement and the valuable experience gained at MERC 2024.

"MERC adalah ajang yang sangat menantang, tetapi juga memberikan pembelajaran luar biasa. Kami pulang membawa banyak ilmu, Ini akan menjadi bekal penting bagi kami untuk terus meningkatkan standar keselamatan dan respons darurat di Indonesia, dan kami akan berbagi ilmu yang didapatkan disana kepada seluruh pihak yang berkepentingan," said Sujoko Martin.

MERC is also a means of strengthening synergy between international rescue teams in sharing knowledge and the latest technology. The ERT Garuda Rescue Nusantara team proved that Indonesia can compete at a global level, while carrying the larger mission of helping others and building a nation better prepared for disaster.