To Receive an Update on Fire Fighting at Sea

Summary

Report Author and Designation	Paul Bates Head of Operational Risk Management
Telephone number/Extension	Direct: Ext: 4404

Introduction

Since the formation of M&WWF&RS in 1996, the Service has had a declared response by way of an Offshore Incident Team for dealing with incidents beyond the low water mark. The mean low water mark had traditionally been the legal boundary for a Fire & Rescue Authority with regard to the discharge of its legal obligations under the previous 1947 Fire Services Act.

However, the deployment of personnel and equipment at incidents offshore changed with the 2004 Fire & Rescue Services Act which now details a requirement to attend incidents offshore. Additionally, the MCA has introduced a Categorisation of Waters system, which further necessitates arrangements to be made by F&RA's for attending incidents at sea.

Up until recent years there has been limited direction and guidance available nationally to Fire & Rescue Services which provided a declared offshore response. However, this has been subject of a number of positive developments recently aimed at providing a more robust national maritime resilience to deal with incidents at sea.

Maritime incident response Group (MIRG)

The Sea of Change Project is run in conjunction with 15 coastal Fire & Rescue Services. These F&RS are collectively known as the Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG). These MIRG Fire & Rescue Services are strategically placed around the coast of the United Kingdom, to provide an offshore response in UK territorial waters. Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service is one of the 15 FRS that make up the MIRG.

MIRG has identified the various competencies that personnel require when they operate offshore. To ensure that these training competencies are met in full, MIRG has also developed various related Training Packages and courses with specialist providers for all members of Offshore Incident Teams. To complement the training, a suite of associated Standard Operating Procedures has also been produced to allow MIRG teams to be able to operate offshore safely with the associated risks kept to a minimum. MIRG has also provided specialist equipment for use to MIRG Fire & Rescue Services for use at incidents offshore or incidents in port.

DEVELOPMENT of M&WWF&RS OFFSHORE (at Sea) incident team

To ensure that the Service is able to provide an offshore response in line with the Maritime Incident Response Group requirements a Service specific action plan has been developed. Currently, the various internal departments are working towards achieving the 22 action points identified in this action plan to address a number of key areas.

In the past, the M&WWF&RS Offshore Incident Team has been made up from whole time personnel stationed at B01 Haverfordwest, supported by officers from within the Pembrokeshire County Command.

However, the Service has acknowledged that to provide a more resilient response membership of the team must be developed and increased. This is currently being addressed, with new members being recruited from the wholetime personnel at B02 Milford Haven and B06 Pembroke Dock. These additional personnel would guarantee that under normal levels of operational activity, that an offshore response could be made in line with the MIRG requirements without disruption to day to day service delivery.

ONGOING Training

MIRG has developed specialist training packages and courses for use by all MIRG F&RS. These are being used in the training of the members of the Service Offshore Incident Team.

Within M&WWF&RS there has been a number of related training activities recently and more are planned in the coming months. For example, on 3rd October 2005, 25 new and existing members of the Service Offshore Incident Team underwent initial helicopter familiarisation at Withybush Airfield Haverfordwest. This training included helicopter safety, dry winching and a short familiarisation flight.

There will be a number of other exercises of a similar nature onboard all three of the ferries operating out of ports within the Authority's area.

POLICY & PROCEDURES

MIRG has and is continually developing policies and procedures across a number of related areas for Offshore Incident operations and training. These policies and procedures are currently being cross-mapped against existing Service orders and where appropriate, existing policy and procedures are being amended to ensure that they are inline with MIRG guidance. This will not only allow for the safe deployment of the Service Offshore team, but also allow teams from other F&RS to work together under common policies and procedures.

FINANCIAL COST TO THE AUTHORITY

Prior to the Sea of Change Project, the Service directly funded all costs associated with the provision and training and equipment etc for the Offshore Incident Team. However, the costs off providing training and additional specialist equipment for the team are now met by the MCA as part of the Sea of Change Project. The Service does make a limited contribution towards the costs, but these are minimal.

In relation to attending shipping and maritime incidents in ports and harbours, the Authority has legal obligations under the Fire & Rescue Services Act 2004 and Health & Safety legislation. This is to ensure that where there are port and harbour shipping risks in a station area that personnel from these stations are fully trained and competent to deal with these incidents. Some of the various skills and competencies, which form part of the MIRG training, are transferable to these areas.

Any reasonable incurred costs for any exercise/training events involving the members of the Offshore Incident Team is covered by MIRG and the Service is reimbursed any costs incurred.

Should the team be deployed to an incident, then the MCA will seek to recover all costs incurred by the Service for dealing with the incident.

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE AUTHORITY AND THE MARITIME & COASTGAURD AGENCY

The finalisation of the agreement between individual Authorities which form part of the Maritime Incident Response Group and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has taken some time. The document has gone through a number of revisions following legal and operational advice and consideration. Service mangers have been involved in the development of the final document.

As part of the MCA agreement, all MIRG F&RS's are requested to ensure that they have officially signed up to the MCA Agreement by 1st April 2006. Service Managers are content that the agreement can now be formally signed off. A copy of the agreement is attached.

Should the Authority wish to withdraw from the agreement with the MCA, then there is scope for this provided that three months notice is given in writing. Any equipment provided by MIRG must be returned to the MCA if the Authority withdraws at any point.

MARINE INCIDENT RESPONSE GROUP OFFICIAL LAUNCH

The official launch of the Marine Incident Response Group and "Sea of Change" project is scheduled to be held at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth on the 7th & 8th March 2006. Given that North and Mid and West Wales will provide the offshore response capability for the whole of Wales it would be a good opportunity to attend the launch jointly. It is understood that North Wales are intending for the Chairman and the Chief Fire Officer along with project officers to attend.

Members are asked to consider how they would wish the Authority to be represented at the official launch of the "Sea of Change" project which is scheduled to be held at HMS Excellent in Portsmouth on the 7th & 8th March 2006.