Vessels from the United States, Japan and Republic of Korea completed a joint ocean search-and-rescue exercise yesterday 80 miles south of Kaua'i.

The exercise, coordinated by the USS Lake Erie, simulated "interoperability and coordination in a real-time scenario" to a distressed vessel with casualties and injuries by respondents from three different countries.

"The exercise presented an opportunity to evaluate our ability to communicate at an operational level," said Lake Erie operations officer Lt. Christa Almonte.

The Coast Guard's Kaua'i-ported 87-foot cutter Kittiwake played the role of the distressed vessels. Small boats with boarding crews were launched from the Lake Erie, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force vessel Haruna, and Republic of Korea's Munmu the Great.

A Coast Guard C-130 long-range aircraft from Air Station Barbers Point provided a communications platform and helped direct the rescue vessels to the rescue scene.

"Overall, it was a success," Almonte said. "This is good practice, and it helps to foster a sustained cooperative relationship between naval ships and aircraft in the Pacific region."