Multi-Agency Harbour Emergency Exercise Conducted at Larne Harbour

Thursday 18 June 2026

LARNE, Northern Ireland - HM Coastguard Larne organised and coordinated a major multi-agency training exercise at Larne Harbour on Wednesday, 17 June, bringing together emergency responders, harbour personnel and ferry operators to test their response to a simulated harbour incident.

Multi-agency responders train together during a harbour incident exercise at Larne Harbour. Photo Credit: RNLI/Larne

The exercise involved teams from HM Coastguard Larne, Portmuck Coastguard, Larne RNLI, P&O Ferries and harbour staff, who worked together in a realistic emergency scenario designed to assess casualty care, communication and inter-agency coordination.

The training scenario simulated a mooring line snap-back incident during harbour operations, resulting in two casualties. One casualty was thrown into the water while a second was left injured on a harbour dolphin structure, with both casualties presenting responders with varying injuries requiring assessment and treatment.

The exercise provided an opportunity for all participating agencies to practise their emergency response procedures in a controlled environment while strengthening working relationships between organisations that may be called upon to respond together during real incidents.

Larne RNLI said the scenario allowed its volunteer crew members to develop and maintain casualty care skills while working closely alongside Coastguard teams and other partners. The charity highlighted the value of regular joint exercises in ensuring crews remain prepared and ready to respond when required.

HM Coastguard Larne noted that training exercises of this nature are important in helping agencies work effectively together during complex, multi-agency incidents and in achieving the best possible outcomes for casualties.

The exercise also enabled harbour and ferry personnel to rehearse emergency procedures and communication protocols, reinforcing preparedness across all organisations operating within the busy port environment.

Regular joint exercises involving Coastguard rescue teams, RNLI lifeboat crews, harbour authorities and commercial operators play a key role in maintaining readiness and ensuring an effective response to emergencies in and around the UK's ports and harbours.

The exercise formed part of ongoing training and preparedness activities for all participating organisations.