MIRG-EX 2016

Table Top and Full Scale Exercises to test response capacities and coordination.On 8 and 9 March representatives of the English, French, Belgian and Dutch MIRGs, MRCC and the European Civil Protection organisation, gathered in Arras, France for a two-day Table Top Exercise. The Pas de Calais Fire and Rescue Service hosted the exercise. Goals of the drill: Testing and implementing the alerting of teams on maritime incidents through the European Civil Protection Mechanism in preparation of the Full scale Exercise to be held in October. On 11 and 12 October, the MIRGs had to deal with a truck on fire, an incident with hazardous liquids and a person trapped. One of the goals of the exercise was to test the team tasking and operational procedures. With nearly 500 participants, including observers from 15 EU and neighboring countries, and the deployment of five ships and three helicopters, this was one of the largest maritime incident response exercises ever held in European waters.

Maritime Incident Response Groups EU (MIRG-EU), who are fire fighter teams specially trained to deal with on board incidents, had a successful two day exercise on 11 and 12 October. MIRG EU is formed by Fire and Rescue Services from Zeeland (NL), Antwerp/Waasland/Ghent (BE), Pas de Calais (FR) and Kent (UK). The exercise was situated on a large cruise ferry navigating on the North Sea close to the Belgian coast. One of the goals of the exercise was to test the team’s tasking and operational procedures. With nearly 500 participants, including observers from 15 EU and neighboring countries, and the deployment of five ships and three helicopters, this was one of the largest maritime incident response exercises ever held in European waters.