PRACTICAL EXERCISE DURING THE EURO-MED TRAINING AND INFORMATION COURSE ON MARITIME SKILLS

As part of the Training Information Course on Maritime Skills, the Civil Protection Department in collaboration with the Malta Maritime Authority and the Pollution Control Co-ordinating limit of the Environment Protection Department, ran a live simulation exercise of a maritime casualty in the Grand Harbour.

The M.V. Calypso, owned by Gozo Channel Company Ltd., was used to simulate a maritime casualty involving a shipboard fire, marine pollution and the evacuation of crew including that of injured persons.

The exercise commenced at 1000 hrs with a message from the ship's captain reporting an oil spill which was shortly followed by another alert message of a fire in the ship's engine room. Three persons who were on board the M.V. Calypso played the role of injured persons.

An emergency control centre was set up in the premises of the M.M.A.'s Port Directorate to activate the emergency response plan for dealing with maritime incidents in port areas. Meanwhile a control unit pertaining to the Civil protection Department was dispatched on the ‘scene of accident' to co-ordinate the shipboard fire-fighting and the search and rescue for the ‘victims.'

The "Monka" pollution control vessel of the oil section of the Environment Protection Department and the Harbour Master's launch MMA I were deployed to contain the spill by means of oil containment booms.

Participants taking part in the training course had the opportunity to follow this demonstration on scene.

The Civil Protection Department despatched fifteen fire-engines and rescue vehicles and the fire-fighting vessel "Garibaldi" for the purpose of this exercise. A total of thirty six members of the Civil Protection Department took part in this drill.

All "injured" persons were handled by the CPD personnel and were brought out of the vessel in question. Meanwhile other members of the Department performed the fire-fighting operation.

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Invincible, which is at present berthed at the Grand Harbour, participated also in the exercise and was in close liaison with the Port Authorities throughout the whole event.

The exercise came to an end at 1230 hrs. The Minister for Home Affairs Dr. Tonio Borg was present during the simulation drill.

This exercise, which is considered to have been a complete success, served to test the alertness of all involved and to further enhance the collaboration between the various Government agencies and Departments in dealing promptly and effectively with maritime incidents.