Tasmania Police officers have descended on Devonport for a realistic counter-terrorism training exercise, with authorities putting their skills to the test on the Spirit of Tasmania ferries.
The two-day drill involved police officers at all experience levels, from fresh recruits to experienced bomb disposal experts.
Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar said the exercise focused on various scenarios involving packages and explosive devices.
“Our staff are confronted with a number of scenarios around suspicious packages that have been located on board the vessel, accompanied by some explosions and some other IEDs that have been located,” he said.
“We know that the Spirit vessels are part of the critical infrastructure in Tasmania, and there’s a huge economic benefit that comes with the vessels.”
“It’s important from a police perspective we’re ready to respond where and when required.”
The training involved using the helicopter to lower bomb technicians onto the ship via a wire, a tactic that the Assistant Commissioner said was a ‘safe and swift’ way to conduct operations.
“Our bomb technicians are being lowered down on the wire with the support of our heli-operations crew … we’re doing that to make sure that we’re conducting [the operation] in a safe manner … as swiftly and efficiently as we can,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of ensuring clear communication and effective procedures in crisis situations.
“We need to have our communication sorted and we need to know the policies and procedures that we have in place are effective and will work in a time of crisis,” he said.
The training allows police to familiarise themselves with the layout of the ferries, including the CCTV systems, which will be crucial if they need to board the vessels in a real-world emergency.
