Zeeland MIRG-EU ready for action

All new recruited MIRG-EU members for the Zeeland teams came together for a first meeting in the Vlissingen fire station on 15 May. Zeeland project leader Jeroen Brussé introduced them to the ins and outs of the project. Jeroen Zonnevijlle, over all project leader, told the MIRG-EU members the background of the project, how it started and why MIRG-EU became a European project. The programme was completed with practical information and an introduction to the trainingssessions to come. The men are enthousiastic and keen to start their training; they are anxious to experience in real life what being a MIRG-member means.

MIRG EX is an international joint partnership. Safety Region Zeeland (NL), which brings together crisis management, fire fighters and medical assistance, is lead partner. The other partners in the project are: the Fire Brigades of Antwerp, Beveren and Ghent (BE). These brigades are linked to important international ports, that accommodate large chemical production plants. Being able to effectively fight fires on board ships is simply essential. In addition to the fire brigades, the Federal Organisation of Public Civil Assistance in Brugge, the Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services-Shipping Assistance Division and the Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven nv (Zeebrugge Port Authority) are partners in the MIRG-EX project. The French Service départemental d’incendie et de secours de Pas-de-Calais and the English Kent Fire and Rescue Service complete the partnership. Both are confronted with heavy traffic on the Channel and the North Sea. An incident may be just around the corner, but this doesn’t mean it can be easily reached let alone be dealt with. Working with similar teams on both shores, reduces will help to reduce response time.