SAR-H and MIRG Deployment
An etract from the BBC website:
"An RAF helicopter from Leconfield was sent along with Humber Lifeboat ready to evacuate the seven crew if required.
"The crew are all unharmed and remained on board the vessel."
The Saline is being towed by a fire tug from the port of Immingham and the Humber Lifeboat remains on standby at the scene.
A team of firefighters from Humberside Fire Service's newly-formed Maritime Incident Response Group (MIRG) were flown out to the vessel to take over the firefighting operation.
It is believed to be the first time the MIRG team has been deployed to a live incident.
Drew Mahood, watch manager at Humber Coastguard, said: "This is a good example of inter-agency working between the coastguard and the fire brigade in an emergency at sea. "Whilst there have been a number of full exercises, it is believed to be the very first time that the Humberside MIRG Team have been mobilised to an offshore incident in their response area."
Nice quote from Mr Mahood, can't help thinking he has failed to mention one organisation vital to the operation. In order to go some way to redress this omission, well done the boys and girls from Leconfield.
Does anyone know if the deployment of these MIRG teams has been included in the SAR-H contract? I believe that a MIRG team consists of 7 firemen and quite a lot of kit which would surely set a limit on how small a helicopter could be used. Would this requirement preclude any of the aircraft that would otherwise have been proposed?
HAL