Those who use Merseyside’s waterways are safer as a result of our commitment to ensuring we have the highest levels of water rescue capability. Merseyside has significant risks related to waterways, so to address these risks we have developed a response capability to swift and still water.
Our Marine Rescue Unit, which is continually available on immediate response, is sited in the River Mersey Community Fire and Rescue Station on the Merseytravel pontoon at the Pier Head. The team are available to respond immediately to incidents on the River Mersey and dock system, from Fort Perch Rock, at the mouth of the Mersey, to the Runcorn Bridge. They provide an essential element of the response to potential emergencies at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as well as effectively dealing with other emergencies on the river.
To supplement this we have highly skilled tidal and fast flowing water response technicians within the Search and Rescue Team who are continually and immediately available to attend emergencies in moving water wherever it may be.
The Service's water rescue response capability is structured to align with guidance issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Flood Response National Enhancement Project.
To ensure our firefighters can work safely in and around still water, mud and unstable ground, all of our firefighters are trained as still water responders. The necessary equipment to respond to this type of incident safely is also carried on every rescue appliance in Merseyside.
You can find out more about the work MFRS does around water safety on our dedicated Water Safety page.