Just realised it's nearly a month since my last post – shows how quiet we've been!
Anyway, this week I had a four day Marine Firefighting course (the old Ship and Port course). Firefighters at coastal stations are required to attend this course as they may be required to fight fires in local ports or on rivers and inland waterways (The Norfolk Broads for us).
Here's a rundown of the four days:
Day 1
Met up with the course attendees: Neal Mills (Princes Street – wholetime), Martin Burglin (Clifton Road – retained), Adrian Harper-Grassing (Orford – retained), Rachael O'Connell (Normanshurst – wholetime), James Winslade (Felixstowe – wholetime), Leon Dally (Newmarket – wholetime), Mick Lowther (Newmarket – retained) and me. Bit odd seeing the two guys from Newmarket but it seems that the water level in the Fens is rising and they may end up in one of the ports should a major incident arise.
Course instructors were Jim Bussey from SFRS and Colin Fulcher from the Port of Felixstowe FRS.
The morning was taken up with lectures giving us a grounding in nautical terms – don't use terms like wall, floor, ceiling and boat in earshot of Colin!
The fun started in the afternoon with a trip to Lowestoft College for our Water Awareness session. The College have a large tank in which many simulations can be staged – ours were primarily based around surviving a jump into the briny!
Kitted in our overalls, deck shoes and lifejackets we had to jump the 20 foot or so into the tank. We exited via the scramble net, helicopter winch or a rather awkward backstroke over to the liferaft and and ungainly entry to it over the side.
Things got more interesting when the wave machine started, the rain came down and the wind started a' blowing…
It was quite disconcerting having to jump from the mezzanine floor into this 'storm'. Timing your breathing was crucial if you weren't to have a stomach full of water (I really hope nobody took a leak in there!). You're getting tired now and everything is more of an effort. You really rely on your team mates to get you into the liferaft.
A short break in proceedings while we individually righted a capsized liferaft. This involved a run and star jump on to the bottom of the overturned liferaft. You then grap hold of a rope and walk the liferaft to vertical whereon it drops swiftly down on to you, completely submerging you underneath. It's then a scramble into the raft and jump out the other side to allow the next flying fish their chance.
The finale is a staged Abandon Ship drill. We congregated at pool level, the lights went out and the order was given to prepare to abandon ship. In the dark we went up to the mezzanine floor, donned our lifejackets and prepared to go over the side. By now the wind is howling, the waves are rising and the rain is pouring down. We were counted over the side, dropping into the inky blackness. In the dark you can't see the waves coming and to begin with it's pot luck whether you take a breath of air or a mouthful or water. With every ounce of energy you strain towards the liferaft and the distant shouts of encouragement from your coursemates. With an unceremonious heave you are launched into the liferaft, face down in a pool of water. You've survived!
I've never been comfortable in water, have never really got to grips with swimming. So this was an experience – one that I would not want to do for real.
We even got a certificate to prove that we got our hair wet and survived the Survival Tank.
Day 2
Muscles are aching that I didn't even know I'd got. Worst affected were my shoulders, hips and stomach. I was glad to see that the others were suffering too – not just the old fogey!
Lectures in the morning included looking at the plans of the MV Torch – the ship we would have an exercise on in the afternoon.
We travelled the length of the delightful Commercial Road to get to the derelict MV Torch. This ageing vessel was used to retrieve dummy torpedos fired by Royal Navy submarines – actually looked a bit like a stern trawler.
Our BA exercise involved entering the ship via its VML (Vertical Metal Ladder) on the foreward deck, used as a means of escape from below decks. I was paired with Adrian from Orford with me as Number 1. We headed aft on a right-hand wall with our intended destination being either the Engine Room or the Generator Room. En route we searched two cabins and then decided to try the Engine Room first. By the time we had reached the bottom of the raking ladder we were on our turnround times, however our Instructor said we could continue. I started to search around the two main engines, the only light coming from our red lensed torches. We located our casualty on the starboard side of the starboard engine (do you like all these nautical terms – I think I'm becoming a real salty sea dog!).
As usual the casualty always seems to be a big bugger. But between us we get the casualty out on via a line dropped down the VML. Our Instructor seemed pleased with the wear only picking up on a couple of minor points.
Other teams had similar successes, so an afternoon well spent in the rusty insides of MV Torch.
We'll revisit MV Torch shortly…
Day Three
Day Three dawns and I have my usual post-BA wear headache. I have a muscle that locks up in my left shoulder that can then cause a headache for most of the following day. Just what I need for our jolly to Felixstowe Docks.
Met Jim Bussey, Rachael and James at Normanshurst and picked up Martin as we passed through South Lowestoft. Arrived at Felixstowe Fire Station just after 8.30 for a brew and then off to the Docks with the rest of the course. Colin met us at the Port Police Station where we were issued with our Visitor Passes.
After a brief visit to the Port Fire Station we went to the tug basin for a tour of a port tug and then off for a spin around the port. We split into two teams with both tugs doing the Royal Review down the line off moored container ships. They then showed off the manoeuvrability, turning a complete circle in their own length and travelling astern as quickly as they do forwards.
Colin took us on a mini-guided tour of the port facility in the minibus. By now my head was banging – fit to blow! We went back to Felixstowe Firetation for lunch with me forcing doen Shepherds Pie and veg.
Thankfully the headache started to shift before we went back to the Port.
Colin left us in the minibus while he went aboard the Hanjin Paris to see if he could arrange a tour for us. After a long wait he signalled us to join him.
The Hanjin Paris is not the largest container ship that Felixstowe takes but at 269 metres long and capabale of carrying over 5300 containers I class it as LARGE!
We climbed the eight or so decks to get to the bridge for a 'breathtaking' view of the port facilities. The view over the harbour was much better though! From the heights of the bridge we descended via the Galley to the Engine Room. Down further to the shaft tunnel and all the way aft till we arrived at their VML escape. Our host invited us to climb the VML to exit at main deck level. This is something that none of the previous courses have been allowed to do. Now this is a long way up! You climb a section, step across and start the next climb. We eventually came to a watertight door, signalling that we were at deck level. The dogs were unfastened but the door wouldn't budge – reminiscent of the moments before breaking out of the tunnel in the film Great Escape! Someone tried a well placed boot to the door – the only result being the wailing of an alarm. This sounded awfully like the Abandon Ship siren we had heard in the survival pool. Had we set that off and this moment frightened Chinese sailors were leaping into the harbour? Was Suffolk sending the full PDA and the OIC about to 'go large' as Colin always said we should?
A wing nut was loosened and then removed allowing us to exit onto the stern of the ship. We exited just as our host arrived having retraced his steps through the Engine Room, up umpteen decks and then all the way to the stern! Through gritted teeth and an inscruteable smile I'm sure I heard him mutter, 'Ahh, You take da pish!'
Colin insisted that we take an afternoon stroll from stern to stem and back again…
A long day, but very interesting especially when the old bonce cleared.
Day Four
The last day of the course starts with an exercise aboard MV Torch.
The scenario is that we have been called to a fire onboard the ship. The fire is out but there are multiple persons unaccounted for.
Martin Burglin and myself went in as a team, me taking the Number 1 slot. Our task was to get as far as the Engine Room or Generator Room and start searching. I made the decision to start with the Engine Room. By the time we had reached the bottom of the raking ladder we couldn't see a thing. Even the dim light from a red lensed torch was denied us, as Jim Bussey had forgotten to bring them! Thanks Jim…
Our search of the Engine Room drew a blank and by the time we got back to the head of the raking ladder we were below our turnround time and therefore headed back onto deck.
After a short while on the BAECO (BA Entry Control Officer) board and as Search Co-ordinator, Martin and I were recommitted to continue searching from where we had left off.
Martin took the lead this time with me hauling the hosereel around everything that it could get caught on. The Generator Room was even more cramped than the Engine Room.
Martin located the casualty at the farthest point away from the raking ladder. We manhandled the casualty to the foot of the ladder and then I took the hosereel up to the top. We somehow managed to get the big bugger up and out onto deck and brought the hosereel with us (always worth a few extra points).
When the exercise was complete and all four casualties found we were able to retrace our steps, this time with a bit of light on the subject. Both Martin and I couldn't believe the small space that we had got through with the casualty in effecting the rescue!
Back to Normanshurst for a fantastic roast dinner, courtesy of Lil and her team.
After dinner we had a short discussion, watched a video and were presented with a certificate for our swim in the pool and also a course photo – thanks Jim. Hopefully, I'll get a few pics on here soon…
All in all, a great course and a good bunch too.