Special Operations Group operatives respond to staged critical emergency on cruise ship

Over 240 police officers, paramedics and role players staged an intense mass stabbing attack on-board the Spirit of Tasmania to test the skills of all first responders. See the pictures.

Heavily armed members from the Special Operations Group jumped from a police chopper onto the deck of the Spirit of Tasmania during a high intensity training exercise this week.

Over 240 police officers, paramedics and role players staged a mass stabbing attack on-board the ship in a scenario designed to test the dynamics of all first responders.

The Sunday Herald Sun was granted exclusive access to the training exercise which was centred around a confronting scenario at sea.

Two fake offenders had fatally stabbed several passengers as the ship was crossing the Bass Strait before reinforcements were called in from Melbourne.

Officers responded to staged fatal stabbings on the Spirit of Tasmania as part of a training exercise. Picture: Alan Barber

Choppers drop SOG members on the deck of the ship for the intense training operation. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Two police and ambulance choppers, filled with the highly-trained tactical police and MICA paramedics, were rapidly dispatched to drop members onto the deck of the ship within minutes.

They fast-roped out of the helicopters from about 15m above the deck, armed with their weapons and huge first aid kits, before sprinting into the cabin to take control.

More police arrived in speed boats before they scaled the side of the ship on a tiny rope ladder, taking just 30 seconds to reach the ship’s deck.

Officers arrive in speed boats and scale the side of the ship to respond to a mock emergency on the Spirit of Tasmania. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

An officer scales a ladder to enter the ship to respond to a staged attack. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The fake victims were also instructed to simulate a critical emergency, screaming for help with many covered in fake blood.

It was genuinely quite confronting to witness.

The Special Operations Group shot the stabbers near the lounge area of level seven to eliminate any risks before declaring the scene safe, allowing paramedics to go to work on the injured passengers.

The Special Operations Group (SOG) search for perpetrators in a high-level training exercise on the Spirit of Tasmania. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Fake victims simulate an emergency, screaming for help while covered in fake blood. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

An officer fires his weapon while engaging a perpetrator. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The dozens of SOG members, who are also highly qualified to deal with medical emergencies, went to work on the victims, administering CPR and lifesaving first aid.

Trained in counter terrorism, the skilled officers were even seen inserting drips into patients’ arms which stabilised the victims until paramedics arrived.

Other members were transporting the critically injured on makeshift stretcher beds to one area to be assessed most urgently.

It was a seriously impressive response from those under immense physical and mental pressure.

An officer inserts a drip into a patients’ arms to stabilise the victim until paramedics arrived as part of the staged training exercise. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The skilled officers administer first aid to wounded passengers in the mock training exercise. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

SOG personnel transport wounded passengers on makeshift stretcher beds. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victoria Police Security Services Division Superintendent David Watt said the mock scenario showed just how dynamic the SOG response needs to be.

“We are always working to ensure our police are ready to respond to any incident, whether it be at sea or on land. In moments like these, every second counts,” he said.

“Training with our emergency services colleagues on days like this ensures we all know our role and are working to achieve the same goal – to protect and save lives.

“We regularly expose SOG operators to unexpected situations where they have to make split-second decisions, so that should a real-life incident occur, they are equipped to respond.

“This kind of training is the closest it gets to the real deal.”

He said the level of medical training the SOG members were equipped with was a game changer.

“Not only are they taught how to respond to an incident from a tactical point of view but their clinical training means they can instantly switch to rendering lifesaving medical treatment when needed,” he added.

“The community should have confidence, as do we, that they are in safe hands.”

The training was not prompted by any sort of threat but was used as a worst-case scenario for members to respond to.

Originally published as Special Operations Group operatives respond to staged critical emergency on cruise ship