LIVE EXERCISE TESTS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO INCIDENT IN HARWICH HARBOUR

17 September 2019

Responses to a sinking ‘cruise ship’ and a fire on a container vessel were tested yesterday as part of a large-scale, multi-agency exercise in Harwich.

Led by Harwich Haven Authority and supported by the Essex Resilience Forum, Exercise Adler 4 simulated a dual maritime incident, to test all aspects of the response by emergency services and other agencies to such an event.

This included marine firefighting and search and rescue, mass landing of casualties at Harwich, co-ordinating systems for media, survivors and their friends and family, and the command and control processes.

Numerous agencies have been involved including Harwich Haven Authority and the multi-agency partners of the Essex Resilience Forum – which includes emergency services and organisations from the Voluntary and private sectors.  Exercise Adler 4 was also ‘played’ at the highest Ministerial level.

Neil Glendinning, Chief Executive, Harwich Haven Authority commented: “As with all emergency planning exercises, it’s the job of organisations that provide safety-critical services to think hard about anything that could go wrong, to develop plans to deal with any such incident and then to exercise those plans to make sure that they work. That is exactly what we are doing with Exercise Adler 4.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the planning of Exercise Adler 4, which has been a huge task for the Authority but also for all of the agencies taking part.”

Harwich Haven Authority has previously conducted a series of exercises under the Adler umbrella, which looked to test responses to maritime and pollution incidents.

Ian Davidson, Chief Executive at Tendring District Council, which heavily supported the exercise, added: “We are delighted with the level of involvement in this exercise, from right across the public and voluntary sector and also partners such as the Ports, and it is pleasing to hear of spin-off exercises and training developing out of Exercise Adler 4.

“Even ahead of the exercise much has been achieved in improving and furthering our preparedness just by organising the Adler 4 , and I am in no doubt that will continue after the debrief and for years to come.”

17/9/19

NEWSDESKS

For more information on this news release contact Harwich Haven Authority Communications Manager Fiona Brunning on 01255 252310/07425 632090 or at [email protected]

Picture captions: Ipswich based Orwell Lady played the part of the cruise vessel in the Exercise.