AN emergency response exercise involving 80 youngsters is set to be acted out on Tuesday as part of a sea port role play day aimed at attracting more young people into ports industries.

AN emergency response exercise involving 80 youngsters is set to be acted out on Tuesday as part of a sea port role play day aimed at attracting more young people into ports industries.

The exercise, which will involve students in playing out an imaginary scenario in which vessels are damaged in the Harwich Haven, is part of an event held at Kesgrave Community Centre.

The Haven Container Ports Exercise 2007 aims to make students from Felixstowe and south Suffolk aware of the growing employment opportunities within Haven Gateway, with a particular focus on the ports and logistics sector.

“It is vital that the ports industry does all it can to attract young people,” said Hutchison Ports (UK) Ltd chief executive Chris Lewis.

“We held the Haven Container Ports Exercise for the first time last year, and it was hugely successful in making students aware of the exciting range of careers and opportunities available within Haven Ports.”

The exercise will involve more than 80 students, aged between 14 and 15, from eight Suffolk schools.