Exercise Midnight Sun - Greenland 2008
BT Emergency Response Team – ERT
Update 15th August 2008
Anton and Gary remain out in the Fjord carrying out maintenance activties at Geordies Point, Mark and Craig briefly returned to Kangaamuit to greet the VIP vistors.
On Thursday 14th August 2008, Larry stone, Bob Groves, Alastair Carruthers and John Mcgaw from BT, Maj Gen & Lady Cowan and Brig Hargreaves arrived at Kangaamuit and visited the base camp location before moving onto Tasiussaq Bay where they will be based for the next two days. All the guests were introduced to Noah, Anders and David.
Whilst at base camp, an overview of the system and the challenges encountered at each of the sites was given by Craig and Kirk. A video conference via the network was held with Capt stu McHenery at Tasiussaq Bay to demonstrate the network working. After an issue of equipment to the BT VIPs, everyone made their way back to the quayside and boarded 'Nivi' and set about going further up the Fjord. A brief stop was made at the Island so that the fuel could be replenished before a further journey to Tasiussaq Bay, where they greeted by the mountaineering teams.
Whilst at Tasiussaq Bay, Bob and Larry paid their respects to the Mast God, and added some more items to the shrine that Camp Elf Stu had created.
Capt Stu McHenery has managed to escape from his soliditude at Tasi Bay and made his way to Kangaamuit by way of 'Nivi'. On his return he was greeted with reindeer stew which had been prepared earlier by Kirk. The meal was enjoyed by Kirk, Stu and Alastair.
This morning (Friday 15th August 2008), we woke to see that yacht Adventure had arrived and was moored at Kangaamuit and we were visited later on by the skipper and a couple of the crew.
More new pictures in the ERT Gallery
ERT Background
The ERT was formed in 2005, with over 3500 people from all parts of the UK expressing an interest and applying for the 24 posts. Candidates applied from all parts of BT, bringing their skills and qualities to the team.
The team’s primary objective is to maintain the BT Critical National Infrastructure in support of Government, the Emergency Services and Civil Authorities in the event of terrorist actions or serious incidents, involving hazardous materials. To carry out this role the team is required to train and exercise alongside units of the Military, Police, Fire and Ambulance Services.
During formation of the team the 7/7 London bombings took place, and elements of the team were placed on standby to respond. More recently, the ERT were deployed to Gloucester supporting the flood relief and placed on standby for potential flooding in Norfolk and Suffolk.
The team has a secondary key role, to provide International Disaster Relief as part of BT’s Corporate Social Responsibility. It will deploy overseas to places where communications are needed to support aid agencies or humanitarian disaster relief.
BT successfully delivered humanitarian relief communications in Kosovo, Bosnia, Asian Tsunami and the Pakistan Earthquake.
Delivery of humanitarian relief is now an integral part of the team’s remit, having also been placed on standby to deploy for the recent Bangladesh flooding disaster.
BT – Ex Midnight Sun
Early in 2007 the BT ERT was approached with a proposal to provide the total communications package for Midnight Sun. Considering BT is also the prime sponsors, it meant a considerable further investment from BT in manpower and equipment. The ERT took up the challenge, acquired the appropriate budget, began designing a comms plan, deployed a recce team to Greenland alongside the military planning team and began researching equipment that would deliver the communications plan.
The ERT will deploy a total of 16 engineers in total. A team of 4 will deploy at the beginning of the expedition, to build a network into Eternity Fjord using a mixture of microwave and satcom equipment, terminating at the various advance base camps along the Fjord. This team will be followed by overlapping maintenance teams of 2 for continuity and at the end, a network recovery team, to breakdown, pack and ship kit back to UK. These 16 engineers will be supplemented by 4 R Signals personnel. These R Signals personnel will be selected following the ERT Training weekend in February, and will deploy with ERT engineering teams to Greenland, to assist with maintenance and to cross transfer skills and knowledge.
Furthermore, in each activity team 1 military person will be identified as the comms expert. Prior to deployment to Greenland, the ERT will provide specialist comms training to these people, as part of the training and development weekends. Once in Greenland, 
activity teams that strike out away from the advance base camps will be provided with comprehensive set of mobile communications equipment that will allow video, voice and data to be sent back to either the main base at Kangaamiut or the UK. The comms expert within that team will be responsible for the use and maintenance of this equipment.
The ERT will carry out a number of experiments in the use of renewal energy power sources to power equipment at relay sites and base camps, as part of BT’s initiative to develop clean energy sources.
This is a unique opportunity to demonstrate ERT capabilities. The ERT will work alongside Royal Signals personnel to transfer skills, knowledge and experience, providing a valuable contribution to an extremely worthwhile expedition.
For further information
Contact George Johnson Tel. 0207 079 5679
