The first live search and rescue exercise among the 8 Arctic states, “SAREX 2012”, took place 10-14 September in stormy weather and high seas in a remote area along Greenland’s east coast. The exercise involved personnel, authorities, airplanes, helicopters and ships from Canada, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia and the United States. It is notable that all the ships, airplanes etc. were regional units normally operating in the High North nationally and in that context the exercise was conducted in a very realistic environment.