Evacuation of ship at sea plan put to the test
THE island’s ability to cope with the mass abandonment of a ship was put to the test yesterday at an exercise in St Peter Port Harbour.
Nearly 200 people took part in Operation Bluefin.
Agencies involved included Guernsey Coastguard, the Joint Emergency Services Call Centre, Guernsey Harbours, Police, Fire and Rescue Service, St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Guernsey Border Agency, Airport Fire Service, Guernsey Air Traffic Control, RNLI, Civil Protection and the Salvation Army.
The exercise had been due to take place in the Little Russel but poor weather conditions meant it went ahead within the harbour confines, with the Sark Venture, which was being used to simulate a cruise ship, staying moored on the Inter-Island Quay.
The scenario was that a fire had started in the cabin and initial attempts to contain it had been unsuccessful. The whole boat had to be evacuated as if it was at sea.
This involved the marine ambulance Flying Christine, the St Peter Port lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey, and the Sea Fisheries patrol vessel Leopardess.
More than 50 people aboard the boat, including crew members, were taken to ro-ro ramp number two on the New Jetty’s east side, where survivor clearance operations were carried out.
Following assessment, the parties were taken either to the terminal building or elsewhere.
The fact that the exercise had not taken place at sea was unfortunate, said exercise director and assistant harbour master Mike Harris.
‘In a real situation we’d have to do it, but because we’re dealing with role players and an exercise, we can’t endanger people,’ he said.
‘Even bobbing up on down on boat for four hours can be very uncomfortable for some with things such as sea sickness.’
Mr Harris said the day was about testing the system and setting up a casualty centre – something that had not been done for many years. Plans to do it 2020 had to be put back due mainly to Covid.
‘Overall, it went well and while we’ve got a bit to work on, that’s what an exercise is for,’ he said.
On a marks out of 10 scale he said it had scored at least a high eight.
The event came on the back of eight to nine months of planning. The 70 volunteers who took part had been briefed over the past four weeks.
Seven of them, who played the wounded, were taken to hospital by ambulance.
The UK Coastguard and the French and Jersey authorities were also involved.
‘If we had a major incident we would very quickly have to call in outside agencies for help,’ he said.