'Fire and evacuation' in Channel today
Video: The Manchex 2009
rescue exercise
by Jo Earle
A major international maritime exercise took place in the
Channel today.
The multi-agency exercise involved Coastguards and the emergency
services from Britain and France.
Operation Manchex is a bi-annual test of the contingency plan
developed to deal with major marine emergencies.
Manchex 2009 simulated a fire and an evacuation from a cross
channel passenger ferry in the approaches to the Southwest Lane of
the Dover Strait.
The maritime incident operations were co-ordinated from the
Maritime and Coastal Agency (MCA) operations room at Dover
Coastguard. A firefighting team from the Maritime Incident Response
Group (MIRG) were airlifted to the vessel. Casualty reception
centres were set up ashore and emergency services undertook
hazardous chemical decontamination of passengers.
Audio: Kaimes Beasely
explains the exercise
Kaimes Beasely is the Channel Navigation Service Manager based
at Dover Coastguard. He said: "The purpose of the exercise is to
test our joint operating arrangements and to interface with our
shore-based emergency service colleagues - the sort of liaison
service we require with our colleagues in the event of a
large-scale maritime incident.
"It will enable us to see how our procedures are at the present
time: is there any need to review these procedures, do we need
to make any changes based up on the results of the exercise?"
FACTS:
- UK MIRG (Maritime and Response Group) teams provide cover
for the UK coastline for fires, hazardous materials and industrial
accidents.
- MIRG personnel are alerted by pager when incidents occur
once tasked by the MCA.
- MIRG personnel aim to be equipped and ready to fly within
60 minutes.
- The team are all volunteers who, in addition to learning
practical ship firefighting, are trained in water sea survival,
helicopter underwater escape, helicopter operations, winching and
use of the extensive equipment provided by the MCA and Fire Service
specifically for the team.
Tuesday, November 03 2009
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