UK gets £2.5million sea rescue centre
Ferry Online Travel News 25/09/2009
New £2.5m search and rescure centre launched at the Greenock Fire Station
A £2.5 million rescue centre, the first of its kind in the UK, was launched yesterday. Based at Greenock Fire Station, the new search and rescue centre will boast a new generation of technology and equipment - evident in the rescue simulation staged off the Victoria Harbour yesterday.
The simulation, which marked the official opening for the centre, featured firefighters being lowered from a Sea King helicopter on to a 'burning' ship.
The new centre at Greenock Fire Station will be operated with three organisations working closely together: the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue and the Strathclyde Police. The organisations said they hope to set the standard for the rest of the UK, by successfully undertaking this unique venture.
Brian Sweeney , the Strathclyde Fire and Rescue chief officer says all three agencies will be trained together, and during rescue missions will respond as one unit. He added that the facility was the culmination of three years' work.
The Greenock Fire Station was chosen as the base because the station is able to accommodate all three factions of the rescue centre, and also because it offers the perfect location to provide an expansive sea rescue service. The area sees a lot of maritime passenger traffic, and is also a hub for cargo offloading.
George White, Councillor for the Inveclyde area said he welcomed the investment, and that they were lucky to have the facility in the area.
Peter Dymond, the project manager with the volunteer Coastguard Rescue Service said the launch of the new facility marked a significant day for maritime emergency services.
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