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Scillonian III and Penzance Dry Dock used for fire training exercises
26
Jan
2011
Fire crews based in Penzance have been involved in two live training exercises on board Scillonian III and at the Dry Dock.
Four fire-fighters from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (pictured) used the empty Scillonian III last Thursday (20 January 2011) for two hours while responding to a scenario involving a missing infant on board.
On Friday 21 January five fire-fighters had to rescue a dummy injured child who had fallen over a high-wall at Penzance Dry Dock using a series of ropes.
In the first exercise on board Scillonian III, the men wore full kit and breathing apparatus with black-out sheets over their face masks to simulate a search in fire and smoke filled conditions. They were tasked with boarding the ship and rescuing a lost child.
The first two crews checked and cleared the first deck and started the second deck of the Scillonian III when they ran out of air and had to pass over to their colleagues who continued to search on-board and successfully located the missing infant.
Des O�Connell, Penzance Watch Manager with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, commented: �I would like to thank all the staff at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, Penzance Dry Dock and the crew of the Scillonian III for accommodating our needs during these vital training exercises. It has been really good to use different �more realistic� platforms and locations for the crews to practice their life-saving training. Over the past few years, the company has been very helpful in helping Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service with our training programme and helping to fulfil our requirements.�
Jeff Marston, Chief Executive of the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company, added: �As the Scillonian III is currently in the wet dock in Penzance, it provided an ideal opportunity for the fire crews to practice their training on board. These type of exercises not only provide Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service with the training they require, but are also excellent opportunities for our own staff and crews to better understand their role in an incident and exactly how the emergency services would respond to an incident were the worst to happen.�
Scillonian III enters Penzance Dry Dock on Saturday 5 February for its annual survey, maintenance and inspections which is expected to take around two weeks.
Ends
25 January 2011
Photo Caption: (L to R) Andy Bales, Charlie Jamieson, Mark Grenfill and Andy Young from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service next to the Scillonian III at Penzance Harbour
For more information contact:
Ryan Martinez
Deborah Clark Associates on behalf of Isles of Scilly Steamship Co.
01208 77900 / 07887 746569
[email protected]
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