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05/05/04 - Mock drama on lake

Lake District cruise companies and Cumbria County Council emergency planners are to stage an exercise on Windermere on Monday, May 10. The purpose is to test the Cumbria Lakes emergency plan and provide practice in their roles for the organisations involved in the plan.   

Councillor Jack Richardson, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member with responsibility for emergency planning, said:    

"The county council makes public safety a priority and invests time and money in planning for emergencies and disasters. Exercises such as this are vital in keeping up to date both the plans and the agencies who would be called upon to carry them out.   

"In the case of the Lakes emergency plan we particularly welcome the continued co-operation of those who run the cruise launches on the lakes and those volunteers who are prepared to be called on during exercises as well in real emergencies." 

Exercise Early Warning is due to start when the launch Tern, owned by Windermere Lake Cruises, leaves No 1 Pier at Bowness on Windermere at 8.30am on Monday, May 10, with a hand-picked complement of passengers. Shortly afterwards an "accident" will occur.    

Emergency procedures will be bought into operation on the Tern and the captain will make a distress call. Rescuers will take Tern’s passengers on board other vessels, including a motor launch and inflatable offshore rescue launches. Some passengers will have simulated injuries. Dummy passengers will be "rescued" from the water.   

All passengers will be taken to a casualty collection point and then on to a reception centre.   

The exercise will end when all passengers have been accounted for and registered. It is expected to finish by 11am and will be followed by a debriefing session for those involved. 

Monday’s operation is the tenth annual Early Warning exercise but is bigger than usual. Crews from all the members of the English Lakes Commercial Boat Operators Association will be taking part. The association was formed 15 years ago by Windermere Lake Cruises, who are hosting Monday’s exercise, Keswick Launch Company, Ullswater "Steamers", Coniston Launch and National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola, Coniston.   

Among the organisations involved are Cumbria County Council’s emergency planning unit, Cumbria Police, HM Coastguard, South Lakeland District Council, Lake District National Park Authority and voluntary rescue boat operators.    

The Cumbria Lakes emergency plan was drawn up and is maintained by Cumbria County Council’s emergency planning unit and covers cruise operations on Windermere, Derwentwater, Coniston Water and Ullswater. Smaller exercises will be held on the other lakes this summer.   

Because their crews are taking part in Exercise Early Warning, Ullswater "Steamers" are cancelling their first sailing on Monday, normally 10am from Glenridding Pier. First sailing will now be at 11.20am. The National Trust Steam Yacht Gondola will not be making its 11am and 12 noon sailings. The first will be at 2pm.