Condor ferries to exercise with HM Coastguard and Hampshire Maritime Incident Response Group fire fighting team - Amended copy

MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Press Notice No: 337-07) issued by The Government News Network on 25 September 2007

PRESS RELEASE AMENDMENT - PLEASE NOTE CHANGE TO DATE

On Friday 28 September 2007 at approximately 9.30am an exercise will take place on board the Condor ferries vessel 'Commodore Clipper'. The exercise is designed to test and audit the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) embarkation to a fire on board a sea going vessel by fire fighting services, and to test the various agencies involved.

The exercise will begin when, whilst on passage from Portsmouth to Guernsey, the Condor ferries vessel 'Commodore Clipper' reports a fire onboard. The ship's fire team will confirm this to be a serious incident. The Master will request shore side firefighting assistance from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) who in turn will inform the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG).

MIRG Teams from Hampshire, Guernsey and Jersey will attend.

* Hampshire will provide the 1st Strike team (via the Coastguard helicopter Whiskey Bravo)

* Guernsey will provide the 2nd Support team (via the Coastguard helicopter India Juliet)

* Jersey will provide the 3rd Support team (via Jersey Tug, Duke of Normandy)

The exercise has been set up to test:

- MIRG embarkation procedures

- The effectiveness of three MIRG response teams to an incident at sea

- Joint working at a multi-agency exercise and liaison with shipping company

- Fire procedures onboard the casualty ferry

- The casualty welfare system (Condor)

15 UK MIRG 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.

Lee Fisher, Coastguard Rescue Centre Coordination Manager at Lee on Solent says:

"We are delighted that Condor Ferries have offered their vessel 'Commodore Clipper' as a platform in order to test and exercise our local MIRG call out. The MIRG now forms an integral part of the United Kingdom's search and rescue response. This exercise will test the deployment of MIRG by air and sea, whilst teams gain valuable experience"

Paul Coates, of Hampshire's MIRG team, says:

"Regular exercises with other fire services, shipping companies and emergency agencies allow us to test our training and offshore procedures. This gives us a better understanding of each others roles which ultimately makes sea travel safer. Condor Ferries deserve a lot of thanks for allowing us to exercise on their ship"

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. The Maritime Incident Response Group is a cross-government project which includes the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), the Fire & Rescue Services (FRS), the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA)and the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

2. The Sea of Change project was launched by the MCA at the request of the Secretary of State for Transport in January 2003. A project manager was seconded to the MCA from Cornwall County Fire Brigade, with support from a technical officer from the ODPM. The project team worked closely with coastal Fire Services, as well as other interested parties including HM Fire Service Inspectorate; the Fire Service College and Fire Policy Division, the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA), and the MoD. The project has made considerable progress in a number of areas, principally:

- the establishment of the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG).

- the provision of specialist training and enhanced safety standards for the safe deployment of firefighters at sea

- the development and provision of equipment required for the safety of firefighters operating in the maritime environment

3. Following recent agreement with the NHS, paramedics will soon be able join the MIRG units following similar appropriate training.

4. MIRG comprises 15 Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) teams strategically located around the country:

- Highland Islands, East Sussex and Jersey.

- Lothian and Borders Hampshire

- Northumberland and Cornwall

- Humberside Mid and West Wales

- Lincolnshire and North Wales

- Suffolk and Strathclyde

- Kent and Guernsey

5. Hampshire, Guernsey and Jersey Fire and Rescue Services provide three of 15 UK MIRG teams which cover the UK for fires, hazardous materials and industrial accidents.

Each team has around 50 personnel (whole time and retained) who are alerted by pager when incidents occur once tasked by the MCA. The aim is for two teams of nine firefighters 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 HFRS specifically for the team.