RNLI Major Incident Exercise

On 9 February 2024, a large-scale mass casualty exercise, codenamed 'Exercise Red Ship', took place aboard the historic lightship LV21 in Gravesend Reach. This significant event was one of the largest exercises ever conducted on the River Thames. The exercise involved multiple emergency services, including Gravesend RNLI's lifeboat Olive Laura Deare II, London Coastguard, Port of London Authority, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, and South East Coast Ambulance Service. Seven volunteer actors from the Casualties Union participated as injured casualties, simulating various injuries such as burns, fractures, and smoke inhalation. The exercise provided an invaluable opportunity for these agencies to collaborate and enhance their emergency response procedures in a realistic, controlled environment.

RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)

The RNLI is a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea, operating a fleet of lifeboats and lifeguard services around the UK and Ireland. The Gravesend RNLI station, one of the busiest on the River Thames, provides rapid response rescue services in one of the country’s most challenging waterways.

NHS South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAMB)

SECAMB provides emergency and urgent care across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and North East Hampshire, responding to 999 calls and major incidents. Their highly trained paramedics, emergency responders, and call handlers deliver lifesaving pre-hospital care in critical situations.

London Coastguard (Maritime and Coastguard Agency – MCA)

The London Coastguard, part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), coordinates maritime search and rescue operations across the Thames and surrounding coastal areas. They oversee emergency responses to incidents on the river, ensuring swift and effective action.

Port of London Authority (PLA)

The Port of London Authority (PLA) manages safety, navigation, and environmental protection across 95 miles of the tidal Thames. They work closely with emergency services, commercial operators, and river users to maintain security and respond to incidents.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS)

Kent Fire and Rescue Service provides firefighting, search and rescue, and emergency response across Kent and Medway. Their crews are trained in water rescue and hazardous incident management, making them essential in river-based emergencies.

Casualties Union

The Casualties Union is a specialist organisation providing trained actors to simulate realistic injuries and trauma scenarios for emergency training exercises. Their volunteers help improve real-world preparedness for paramedics, lifeboat crews, and other emergency responders.

This provides a concise but informative overview of each participating organisation. Let me know if you need any refinements!

This event has ended