A joint Irish-British marine emergency exercise is to take place on the Irish Sea today, involving the Irish Ferries vessel, MV Isle of Inishmore, the Irish Marine Emergency Service, the RAF, UK Coastguard, Dublin and North Wales fire brigades, and Welsh ambulance and police services.
Shipping and fishing vessels have been warned not be alarmed if they see or hear of large-scale helicopter rescue or other activity. The Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, said the exercise was designed to test co-operation and communication between the services on both sides of the Irish Sea.