A release today from the Montserrat Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA) says it will host a Maritime Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) tabletop exercise and seminar on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at the Montserrat Cultural Center in Little Bay.
The one-day event, organized by the DMCA with technical support from the United Kingdom (UK) Maritime Coast Guard Agency and the United States (US) Coast Guard.
The Maritime MRO tabletop exercise and seminar will allow stakeholders to test and evaluate Montserrat’s national Maritime Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) response framework and draft Maritime Mass Rescue Operation plan for dealing with large passenger vessels that may traverse Montserrat waters.
The release notes, that some of these vessels may not have Montserrat as their destination but the circumstances may require a local response in the event of an alert or an emergency is declared.
Hence, Montserrat needs to be ready to respond nationally, with all stakeholders knowing and understanding their roles and responsibilities as defined in the Mass Rescue Operation (MRO) response plan, based on local resources and capabilities.
It is also critical that in any response Montserrat knows its resource limitations, incident command structure and logistical and communication arrangements.
The tabletop exercise and seminar would also guide Montserrat’s effectiveness and efficiency in responding to all types of marine emergencies.
The release informs that the event will bring together staff from the Disaster Management Coordination Agency (DMCA), the Royal Montserrat Police Service, the Montserrat Port Authority, Royal Montserrat Defence Force (RMDF), Tourism Division, Montserrat Integrated Border Security Unit (IBSU), Montserrat branch of the British Red Cross, Airport, Governor’s Office, the Fisher’s Association, Social Services, Ministry of Health and representatives from the US Coast Guard and the UK Maritime Coast Guard Agency.
