Stena Line Holds Fire Safety Training Exercise in Birkenhead 2026

Key Points

• Stena Line conducted an extensive exercise involving many agencies in a major emergency response scenario at its 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead on 27 October 2026.
• The exercise simulated a fire on board a vessel belonging to the firm when out at sea.
• The scenario continued after the vessel had berthed at the port, thus testing how to transition from an at-sea emergency to an ashore response.
• Agencies involved in the exercise included teams from Stena Line, HM Coastguard, Merseyside Police, and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service.
• The exercise tested communication protocol, decision-making processes, coordination among agencies, and deployment of emergency services both onboard and ashore.
• Stena Line fleet manager Michael Proctor described safety as their “number one priority”.
• Area commander for HM Coastguard Michael Buratti said that exercises of such magnitude enable agencies to test plans, communication and joint decision-making process.
• Among the observers were Peel Ports, Liverpool University, ferry companies and representatives of emergency response agencies and the shipping industry.
• Stena Line offers twice daily return sailing from Birkenhead to Belfast with freight, cars and foot passengers on board.
• In addition, the company offers regular ferry services only for freight vessels between the Mersey and Dublin ports.

Birkenhead (Liverpool standard) October 27, 2026 — Irish Sea ferry operator Stena Line has carried out a large-scale emergency response exercise at its 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead, simulating a fire on board one of its vessels while at sea.

As reported by Tony McDonough of Liverpool Business News, the exercise brought together maritime, emergency service and port partners to test and strengthen fire response procedures in a realistic operational environment. The scenario began with a simulated “fire at sea” onboard a Stena Line vessel and progressed to an emergency response operation after the vessel berthed at the port.

The event was designed to mirror a real-life incident as closely as possible. It tested how organisations communicate, make decisions and coordinate during a major maritime emergency, as well as how emergency resources are deployed both onboard a vessel and ashore.

Stena Line said the exercise formed part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety for employees, customers, contractors and partners. The company operates services from the 12 Quays Terminal, including twice-daily return sailings to Belfast that carry freight, cars and foot passengers, alongside regular freight-only services between the Mersey and Dublin.

Which agencies took part in the exercise?

The exercise involved teams from Stena Line, HM Coastguard, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service. Their participation allowed the organisations to practise a coordinated response to a simulated maritime fire emergency.

According to Liverpool Business News, the scenario tested communication protocols, decision-making and coordination between agencies. It also examined the deployment of emergency resources both onboard and at the port.

Maritime incidents can require a complex response because they may involve a vessel at sea, a port environment, passengers or crew, and multiple emergency services. The exercise gave participating organisations an opportunity to work through those pressures in a controlled setting rather than during a live incident.

The presence of HM Coastguard was particularly significant because the agency has a central role in coordinating maritime search and rescue operations around the UK coast. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service and Merseyside Police brought local emergency response capability, while Stena Line provided the operational setting and vessel-side involvement.

What did Stena Line say about the exercise?

Michael Proctor, fleet manager at Stena Line, said safety was the company’s top priority. As reported by Liverpool Business News, he said: “Safety is our number one priority and exercises such as this are vital in ensuring we are fully prepared to respond should an incident ever occur.”

Mr Proctor added that the success of the exercise demonstrated the professionalism and close collaboration between Stena Line and its emergency service partners. He said the learning gained would help strengthen safety for colleagues, customers and everyone working across the company’s port and vessel operations.

His comments indicated that the exercise was intended not only as a test of existing procedures but also as a way to identify areas for improvement. The company described the event as part of its wider commitment to safety across its operations.

Stena Line’s Birkenhead terminal is an important part of its Irish Sea network. The company’s services from the site connect the Mersey with Belfast and Dublin, supporting passenger travel and freight movements.

What did HM Coastguard say?

Michael Buratti, area commander at HM Coastguard, said exercises on this scale gave all agencies a valuable opportunity to test their plans, communications and joint decision-making in a realistic environment.

As reported by Liverpool Business News, Mr Buratti said: “Maritime incidents can require a complex, coordinated response both at sea and ashore, so working alongside Stena Line and our emergency service partners helps ensure we are collectively prepared to respond effectively.”

His remarks underlined the purpose of the exercise: to ensure that different organisations can operate together when an incident involves a vessel, a port and emergency services. The simulation allowed participants to practise communication and coordination without the risks associated with a real emergency.

The exercise also reflected the broader importance of joint training in maritime safety. A fire onboard a ferry can require rapid decisions about containment, evacuation, passenger safety, crew welfare and the movement of emergency resources to the scene.

Why was the exercise held in Birkenhead?

The exercise took place at Stena Line’s 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead, the company’s Merseyside base for its Irish Sea services. The terminal handles twice-daily return sailings to Belfast, carrying freight, cars and foot passengers, as well as regular freight-only services between the Mersey and Dublin.

The location provided a realistic port setting for the simulated emergency. Because the scenario moved from a fire at sea to a response after the vessel berthed, the terminal played a central role in testing how shore-based teams would respond once a vessel arrived.

The exercise was designed to test procedures across the full sequence of a potential incident: the initial emergency onboard, communication between the vessel and external agencies, the vessel’s arrival at port, and the deployment of emergency resources ashore.

Stena Line said the event was intended to encourage collaboration and shared learning across the wider maritime industry. The company stated that the exercise formed part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining high safety standards for those who work in and use its operations.

Who observed the emergency response exercise?

The exercise was not limited to the organisations directly involved in the response. According to Liverpool Business News, observers included Peel Ports, Liverpool University, ferry operators and representatives from the emergency response and shipping sectors.

Their presence reflected one of the stated objectives of the event: to encourage collaboration and shared learning across the wider maritime industry. By allowing other port, academic, ferry and shipping organisations to observe the exercise, Stena Line created an opportunity for safety practices and lessons to be discussed beyond the immediate participants.

Peel Ports has an operational interest in port safety and resilience, while Liverpool University’s involvement suggests an academic or research-related interest in emergency planning and maritime operations. Ferry operators and shipping-sector representatives would also have a direct interest in how major incidents are managed at sea and in port.

The inclusion of observers did not form part of the emergency response itself, but it highlighted the wider industry relevance of the exercise. Maritime safety planning often depends on shared procedures, clear communication and cooperation between vessel operators, port authorities and emergency services.

How did the simulated fire scenario work?

During the exercise, Stena Line simulated a fire onboard one of its vessels while it was at sea. The scenario then progressed to an emergency response operation after the vessel berthed at the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead.

According to Liverpool Business News, the exercise was designed to closely mirror a real-life incident. It tested communication protocols, decision-making, coordination between agencies and the deployment of emergency resources both onboard and ashore.

The structure of the scenario meant participants had to manage two linked phases: responding to an emergency while the vessel was at sea, and continuing that response once the vessel reached port. This approach tested how information was shared and how operational decisions were made as the situation developed.

The exercise did not involve a real fire or a real emergency. It was a planned training event intended to assess preparedness, identify strengths and support learning among the participating organisations.

What does the exercise mean for ferry safety?

The exercise demonstrated the practical value of multi-agency training for ferry operations. By bringing together a ferry operator, HM Coastguard, police and fire services, it tested the kind of cooperation that would be required in a genuine maritime emergency.

For Stena Line, the event provided an opportunity to assess its own emergency procedures in a realistic setting. For the emergency services, it offered a chance to practise coordination with a major ferry operator and port partner.

The company said the exercise was part of its commitment to maintaining high safety standards for employees, customers, contractors and partners. Mr Proctor’s comments emphasised that such exercises are viewed as vital preparation for responding should an incident ever occur.

The exercise also highlighted the importance of shared learning. With observers from Peel Ports, Liverpool University, ferry operators and the wider shipping sector, the event extended beyond a single company’s internal training and contributed to broader industry engagement with emergency preparedness.

Background of the development

Stena Line is an Irish Sea ferry operator that runs services from the 12 Quays Terminal in Birkenhead. The terminal supports twice-daily return sailings to Belfast, carrying freight, cars and foot passengers, as well as regular freight-only services between the Mersey and Dublin.

The emergency exercise was reported by Liverpool Business News on 27 October 2026, with reporting by Tony McDonough. It involved Stena Line, HM Coastguard, Merseyside Police and Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service, with observers from Peel Ports, Liverpool University, ferry operators and representatives from the emergency response and shipping sectors.

The event simulated a fire onboard a vessel at sea, followed by an emergency response after the vessel berthed at Birkenhead. Its stated purpose was to test communication, decision-making, coordination between agencies and the deployment of emergency resources onboard and ashore.

Prediction: How this development can affect passengers and port users

For passengers travelling through Birkenhead, the exercise is likely to reinforce confidence that ferry operators and emergency services regularly rehearse major incident procedures. Stena Line said the event formed part of its commitment to safety for customers, employees, contractors and partners.

For freight operators and businesses using the Belfast and Dublin services, improved coordination between the ferry operator, port partners and emergency services may support more reliable emergency planning around the terminal. The exercise focused on preparedness rather than disruption to services, and no service disruption was reported in the source material.

For port and maritime workers, the event may encourage closer working relationships between Stena Line and the emergency services. The company said the learning gained would help strengthen safety across its port and vessel operations.

For the wider Merseyside maritime sector, the involvement of observers from Peel Ports, Liverpool University, ferry operators and shipping organisations suggests that the exercise may contribute to shared awareness of emergency response practices. The main effect for the local audience is therefore likely to be greater assurance that Birkenhead’s ferry terminal and its emergency partners have practised a coordinated response to a serious onboard fire scenario.