A SINKING cruise ship and a blaze on a container vessel tested the emergency services to the limit.

A training exercise saw a range of emergency crews being tested in the large-scale multi-agency drill.

A LIVE maritime exercise has tested the emergency services’ responses as part of a large-scale, multi-agency drill.

The test, called Exercise Adler 4, simulated a sinking cruise ship and a fire on a container vessel in Harwich on Monday, September 16.

The event, led by Harwich Haven Authority and supported by the Essex Resilience Forum, tested all aspects of the responses by emergency services through the dual maritime incident.

During the test, marine firefighting, search and rescue, mass landing of casualties in Harwich, co-ordinating systems for media, survivors and their friends and family, and the command and control processes were all assessed.

Neil Glendinning, Harwich Haven Authority’s chief executive, said: “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 Council, who heavily supported the exercise, added.

He said: “We are delighted with the level of involvement in this exercise, from right across the public and voluntary sector and also from partners, such as the ports.

“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.”

A range of emergency services and organisations from the voluntary and private sector were involved.