London Coastguard coordinated the response involving two RNLI lifeboats and launches from the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade and the Port of London Authority. Casualties were landed at Chelsea Pier where the Metropolitan Police and London Ambulance Service set up an emergency evacuation centre. Army volunteers played the part of casualties and acted out various roles including minor to severe injuries, disabled passengers and even a crowd of rowdy youths the worse the wear for drink! Emergency teams from the Local Authorities were able to test their own response to such a disaster. Casualties were winched from both the Golden Salamander and the river itself by a Sea King rescue helicopter from RAF Wattisham.

This element was to test the practicalities of deploying a large rescue helicopter in the centre of London. The provision of rescue services on the River Thames has its own particular requirements with several various authorities and commercial operators using small vessels with rescue capabilities. Coordinating these units which otherwise operate independently on a day to day basis could be a challenge and it is a tribute to all involved that the first craft was on scene within minutes of the distress call and the 100 plus passengers were evacuated from the Golden Salamander well within one hour.

The simulated scenario bore similarities to the disaster in 1989 when the passenger vessel Marchioness collided with the dredger Bowbelle beneath Cannon Street Railway Bridge. 51 of the 132 passengers on the Marchioness were lost.

By Peter Barker.