Published: 28 November 2006
Offshore Firefighting Exercise
Exercise Mallard's Saviour is the code name for the exercise which took place last weekend to practice the varied skills and talents needed to respond to such a major maritime incident.
Exercise Mallard's Saviour is a multi-agency MIRG exercise, drawing together specialists from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Northumbria Fire and Rescue, Humberside Fire and Rescue, Newcastle Ambulance Service, Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat and a passenger shipping company.
The 'Sea of Change' project was launched by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (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 MCA 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 Ministry of Defence.
This subsequently led to the establishment of the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG).
Since then, the need for all UK Fire Brigades with MIRG responsibilities to be formally trained in airlift techniques has been formally recognised.
The RAF SARF routinely trains with individual Fire Brigades in MIRG techniques needed to operate safely using the helicopters at the 6 x RAF bases, as do the Royal Navy at 2 x RN bases and the four Coastguard helicopter bases, located around the UK coastline.
Mallard's Saviour was used to test the coordination of an offshore fire-fighting incident, train personnel and evaluate the MIRG techniques used by the multiple emergency agency participants. It drew together their specialist skills to deal with a simulated fire on board a civilian ferry vessel.
Further information
'Sea of Change' project
Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG)
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