“Smooth operator” – plain sailing for ETV training exercise

A training exercise involving the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) emergency towing vessel and a local ferry in Scapa Flow has been hailed a success.

Thanks have been extended to the crew and masters of the MCA’s emergency towing vessel IEVOLI BLACK and NorthLink’s MV HAMNAVOE for their role in the operation.

Exercise Controller Paul Tunstall, MCA Counter Pollution and Salvage Officer, Scottish Islands and Northern Ireland, said: “The nature of the exercise was for the IEVOLI BLACK to undertake the tow of a significantly sized ‘disabled’ vessel, providing an enhanced training opportunity for both the MCA and NorthLink personnel. There were a number of objectives as part of the exercise such as demonstrating the ability to connect to a large ro-ro passenger ship; conducting an effective tow thereafter and disconnecting safely and timely, all of which were achieved successfully and timeously.

“The support of Orkney Islands Council Marine Services,  NorthLink Ferries and the Shetland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was invaluable, and it was also good to welcome the participation of Stromness and Longhope lifeboats.”

The Council’s Head of Marine Services, Transportation and Harbour Master Jim Buck, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to support this training exercise given the significant importance of maritime safety to all and delighted to see how well the operation ran.”

Captain John Strathearn, Serco’s Operations Director at NorthLink Ferries, said: "I would also like to commend the efforts of all personnel involved and it quickly became apparent that the careful planning and coordination by all partners led to a very successful training exercise.”

The ship, IEVOLI BLACK, is a 70 m towing vessel of some 2283 gross tonnes and a bollard pull of 139 tonnes.