The two-day exercise involved HM Coastguard’s Belfast Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) managing the response to a simulated emergency in the Atlantic Ocean.
HM Coastguard can deploy its own helicopters and aeroplanes for aerial search and rescue, with the RAF ready to support. In this exercise, a P8 Poseidon aircraft from 201 Squadron took part out of Aldergrove Flying Station, near Belfast.
It was the first time this aircraft has both operated from Aldergrove and been in involved in a joint search and rescue training exercise.
A timely reminder, ahead of the busy summer season, of the importance of maritime search and rescue
The exercise itself tested responses to a person in the water and an incident involving a search for a liferaft.
HM Coastguard colleagues were on board the Poseidon and had an invaluable insight to the capabilities of the aircraft as well as the challenges of searching for objects in the water.
The exercise also gave an opportunity for one of HM Coastguard’s trainee Search and Rescue Mission Coordinators based at MRCC Belfast to plan and coordinate a search with the RAF.
The RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat from Portrush played a significant part in the exercise and was heavily involved in the searches.
The simulated response was conducted as part of a wider five-day activity led by the RAF, dubbed Exercise Emerald Rescue.
At the start of the week, HM Coastguard staff were able to brief RAF personnel at MRCC Belfast where processes were explained and a tour given of the operations room, from which 999 calls are directed and rescues coordinated.
In an emergency by the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
Assistant Chief Coastguard David Sharp said: "Exercise Emerald Rescue is a timely reminder, ahead of the busy summer season, of the importance of maritime search and rescue in the UK.
“A range of responders, like the RAF and RNLI, train together to be ready 24/7 to help anyone in distress. In an emergency by the coast, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
Brigadier Piers L. Ashfield DSO MBE, the commander of 38 Brigade and the senior military officer in Northern Ireland, said: “Aldergrove flying station the westernmost airbase of the UK and has direct access to the North Atlantic. It’s been great to have the Poseidon here this week and we have seen that they can operate successfully from here.”
Main photo, from left: Phillip Johnston, RNLI Area Operations Manager; Andrew Oldfield, Rescue Coordination Centre Manager, Belfast; Ryan Gray, Senior Coastal Operations Officer; Gordon McCreadie, Divisional Commander
