In a bid to enhance capacity to respond to accidents and disasters at remote areas in his division, Divisional Commander Marine North Division (MNDIV) Bradley Wright has called on his officers to give some thought to designing a platform that would be cost effective to build and easy to operate. 

 

After several months of deliberation and research, a Multi-purpose Emergency Landing Platform (MELP) was designed, which is a tribute to the creativity of a group of junior police officers. The MELP enables Divisional Fast Patrol Craft crew to safely and effectively rescue injured persons from rocky beaches, significantly reducing risk to the crew and the rescued persons. The MELP is a strong floating bridge that can berth on uneven surfaces and connect with a Police vessel and the shore.  It can also prevent unnecessary damage to the Police vessel in an emergency situation.

 

The MELP has been made with used and surplus materials. For portability, it can be carried by a Large Police Launch or towed by a Small Police Vessel.  After six months of design, fabrication and sea trails, the new MELP was tested on a number of remote beaches. Following a rescue exercise conducted on February 18, it proved to be safe for conveying injured persons, particularly those who are on stretchers or can hardly move.  

 

Commenting on the MELP, Marine Outer Water District Commander Barry Smith commented: "This is a new concept, which, from design to production, was executed by our frontline officers at a very low cost. It not only enhances the efficiency of rescue operations, but also saves expense of purchasing a similar item from the market."