An inter-agency exercise tested a number of emergency and Government departments? response to a crisis on Sunday.

The departments were presented with a fake scenario ? a fire aboard a cruise ship ? and asked to make real-time decisions based on the fire?s development.

The Bermuda Fire Service, Police Service, Harbour Radio Rescue Co-ordination Centre, King Edward VII Memorial, Department of Marine and Ports, Department of Tourism, Corporation of St. George?s, Maritime Administration, St. George?s Fire Brigade, Meyer Agency and the Department of Communication and Information participated in the exercise.

The aim was to test the effectiveness of current procedures and the efficiency of inter-department communication.

Deputy Fire Chief John Pacheco said: ?Often each agency is aware of its own procedures and personnel but we wanted to create more opportunities for us to get to know and work along side each other.?

He felt the exercise was a success and illustrated that the departments need to meet and work together more often.