MARITIME SEARCH AND RESCUE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

CANADIAN SEARCH AND RESCUE

Maritime SAR in Canada SAR is a federal responsibility The Department of National Defence has the role of lead agency for coordinating SAR related activities in Canada Coordinated by a Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) or a Maritime Rescue Sub Centre (MRSC) A joint operation by Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard

Maritime SAR in Canada A major operation will involve many authorities and organizations outside the SAR system

Canadian SAR Regions

Canadian SAR Regions The Canadian Search and Rescue Area is considerable. Compare it to the size of Europe

Unified Command Structure in Canada

What Has Canada Done To Prepare A SAR structure which meets international commitments A well integrated system of regular and volunteer response units Well trained response units, military and civil

What Has Canada Done To Prepare (Continued) Canadian Forces /Canadian Coastguard Project Team updated Major Marine Disaster Plans A review of the Command and Control framework Regular exercises

International Air and Marine Search And Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual There has been International agreement on Search and Rescue services, dividing the world into national areas of responsibility, and covering organisation, distress channels for aviation and marine, distress signals, etc.

International Air and Marine Search And Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual The current IAMSAR Manual was introduced in 1998, and has three volumes 1. Organization and Management 2. Mission Co-ordination 3. Mobile facilities

Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue Program

Canadian Coast Guard Mission Save 100% lives at risk Reduce the number and severity of SAR incidents Minimize loss of life, injury, property damage and risk to the environment Support and involve the RCM-SAR

Canadian Coast Guard Mission Maintain the highest professional standards Provide national leadership and effective SAR Program management Provide international SAR leadership Maximize SAR system efficiency through innovation Promote volunteerism

Canadian Coast Guard Mission Increase awareness of the SAR Program Assist in the development of the National SAR Program Foster cooperative SAR agreements Provide humanitarian aid and civil assistance where possible

BRITISH COLUMBIA

JRCC Victoria Search and Rescue on the West Coast of Canada is coordinated out of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Victoria. It is based at the Canadian Forces Base at Esquimalt. It is responsible for air and maritime rescue throughout the area.

JRCC Victoria In the event of an alert at JRCC Victoria, the operation will be passed to air controllers for an aeronautical incident, or a marine controller for a maritime incident.

JRCC Victoria This alarm may be raised by many methods including: EPIRB or EPIB signal Telephone call from the authorities or public sighting an incident or distress signal Calls from another vessel

JRCC Victoria The JRCC will alert rescue resources Helicopters and fixed wing SAR aircraft Coast Guard and RCM-SAR vessels including hovercraft Merchant vessels nearby

JRCC Victoria Rescue resources (Continued) Warships Pleasure Craft Fishing Vessels The SAR command and control structure

JRCC Alert List The Ship Owner (shipping company) Local Authority (EMO) RCMP and Police Harbour Master Fire Departments Ambulance Departments

JRCC Alert List Hospitals Provincial Emergency Plan Transport Canada Environment Canada Provincial ministries

Primary Rescue Resources Canadian Coast Guard Stations are situated at: Victoria Prince Rupert Sidney Nanaimo Sea Island Kitsilano Powell River

Primary Rescue Resources Saltspring Island (Ganges) Tofino Bamfield Port Hardy Bella Bella Sandspit Campbell River Cortes Is - (seasonal)

RCM-SAR Units in British Columbia

BEWARE Some of these authorities and organizations may have different command and control systems Emergency Site Management (ESM) Incident Command System (ICS) System in Canadian Unified Command Centres is a mix of IAMSAR and ICS

And did you remember The media Salvage/recovery of the ship(s) Pollution Record keeping and the subsequent enquiry

Media Handling Interest in a major incident will be intense ‘No comment’ will not be adequate A co-ordinated media strategy is vital Be prepared to provide information and facilities to assist the news media to do its job Be prepared to provide operational ‘talking heads’ for news conferences and interviews

MAJOR MARINE DISASTER

What is a Major Marine Disaster Involves large numbers of people In a marine environment that may be outside the jurisdiction of shore authorities May involve more than one vessel Probably involves removing large numbers of persons from a ship to a place of safety.

International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety Radio communications and SAR have a part to play in any incident before a ship is actually evacuated – even before the decision to evacuate is made. Ideally, communications with the RCC and other SAR facilities will have been initiated well before. And ‘SAR’ should not be considered only as a matter of finding and recovering people in distress.

International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety SAR service assistance can be provided to the ship before it is evacuated, preferably to prevent evacuation becoming necessary – firefighting or medical teams may be transferred aboard, emergency towing assistance supplied, etc.

International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety The response to any incident extends beyond the safe delivery of survivors to the shore. The maritime SAR services are (or should be) closely involved with their shore-side counterparts in arranging efficient transfer of the survivors into shore-side care. In the case of a large passenger ship evacuation this will be a very complicated process, with the need for extensive communication – at the ….

International Correspondence Group on Large Passenger Vessel Safety …. contingency planning stage as well as during any incident.

Command Considerations Additional air resources Where will survivors be landed Where will injured persons be landed and will it be by air or sea Are the facilities in these locations adequate If additional resources are required at these locations how will they get there and how quickly

What needs to be remembered Keep the Major Marine Disaster Plan up to date- review it regularly Exercise realistically but in a controlled manner- remember to include external agencies in exercises Continue exercises beyond the shoreline Speak to stakeholders – shipping interests Every major incident will be different – be prepared to improvise around the basic plan

PLANNING AND TRAINING

You’ve carefully thought out all the angles… You’ve done it all a thousand times before… It comes so naturally to you You know what you’re doing, its what you’ve been trained to do your whole life… Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

SEARCH AND RESCUE AROUND VANCOUVER

Canadian Coast Guard The Canadian Coastguard is represented in the Vancouver area by: MCTS Vancouver Marine resources at Kitsilano Base Hovercrafts at Vancouver Airport

MARINE COMMUNICATIONS AND TRAFFIC SERVICES VANCOUVER

North Window View

MCTS Mission Statement To provide communications and traffic services for the marine community and for the benefit of the public at large to ensure: Safety of life at sea in response to international agreements Protection of the environment through traffic management Efficient movement of shipping Information for business and the national interest In 1996, Coast Guard Radio was amalgamated with Vessel Traffic Services to create the combined service of Marine Communications and Vessel Traffic Service (MCTS). The two distinct services bring varied expertise into the operations room, aiding in the expeditious resolution of marine incidents.

MCTS Program Statement Within the Coast Guard, MCTS programs provide: the initial response to ships in a distress situation; a reduction in the probability of ships being involved in collisions, groundings, and strikings; a cornerstone in the marine information collection and dissemination infrastructure. The tools we use include: radar; VHF, MF and HF radio transceivers; Digital Selective Calling (DSC); Automated Identification Systems (AIS); Satellite communications; Encrypted communications (U.S./Can); various computerized vessel databases.

MCTS: Mandated Services Distress - Safety - Communications & Coordination Vessel Screening to prevent the entry of unsafe vessels into Canadian waters Regulating Vessel Traffic Movements for marine risk reduction Managing an Integrated Marine Information System in support of economic benefits and national interests.

MCTS in British Columbia The Pacific Region, Canada Coast Guard (CCG) operates three Vessel Traffic Services Zones: Vancouver; Tofino; and, Prince Rupert.

MCTS in British Columbia The Vancouver Zone is comprised of 4 sectors: Sector 1 = Victoria MCTS Centre (SOG / JDF) Sector 2 = Victoria MCTS Centre (S. ARM) Sector 3 = Vancouver MCTS Centre Sector 4 = Comox MCTS Centre

Vancouver MCTS: Area of Responsibility From Iona Sewer Jetty westward (15A) until it intersects with line running south from Cape Roger Curtis (15B); From Cape Roger Curtis westward to Gower Point (15C) All waters in Howe Sound, English Bay, Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm, including Port Moody and False Creek.

Vancouver MCTS Operations Located on the 23 floor of 555 West Hastings Street, it is comprised of 4 distinct operations consoles: Vancouver Vessel Traffic; Safety (Coast Guard Radio); Watch Supervisor; and, Regional Marine Information Console (RMIC)

Watts Point VHF Bowen Is Radar MCTS Vancouver

Traffic Console (view to Second Narrows)

Traffic Console Bowen Radar // Kap-E and Kap-W Radar // Berry Pt Radar VTOSS (Vessel Transit Operating Safety System) CCS (Communications Control System) First Narrows Camera (capacity to video record)

Vancouver Coast Guard Radio Vancouver Coast Guard radio operates out of MCTS Vancouver

Safety Console Vancouver Coastguard Radio Communications Control System (CCS) / Message Data System (MDS) / VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) // Internet // Intranet / Nobletec Chart Program / Tide & Current Program

Communications Control System Harbour Centre VHF Ch. 04A,16, 22A, 26, 83A Watts Point VHF Ch. 16, 26, 83A These VHF channels are all recorded and tapes kept. In addition, any of these channels can be set to repeat in JRCC Victoria (1709)

Communications Control System The CCS enables the MCTSO to conduct simultaneous transmissions on multiple frequencies. The JRCC can be immediately alerted to any distress or urgency communications by simply selecting the dedicated “1709” telephone icon and the appropriate VHF channel. The JRCC telephone line can be “linked” to any VHF frequency to provide direct communications to vessels or aircraft engaged in SAR operations.

Supervisor’s Console Deep Sea vessel anchorage assist (CH77) Switch between Bowen & Kap-E/Kap-W Radar, plus Berry Pt radar CCS MDS Encrypted Phone Comlog

Vancouver Port Authority and Vancouver MCTS (Memorandum of Understanding) The purpose of the MOU is to ensure a strong operational interface and an enhanced and efficient level of safety in the Port. Second Narrows Movement Restriction Area First Narrows Regulations Marine Emergencies Anchorages Tankers Engine Immobilization Requests

Vancouver Approach: Winter

Inner Harbour (Winter)

Berry Pt. Radar (Winter)

Vancouver Approach: Summer

Foggy Sunrise

Winter Sunrise

CANADIAN COASTGUARD KITSILANO BASE

CCG Kitsilano Base Situated at the south east corner of Vanier Park, by the Burrard Street Bridge. It is manned 24 hours a day, and have two craft:

CCG Kitsilano Base CCGC Osprey Built 1985 Displacement 15.7t Length 12.4m Draft 1.3m

CCG Kitsilano 1- a 733 RHIB with twin 150hp outboards CCG Kitsilano Base CCG Kitsilano 1- a 733 RHIB with twin 150hp outboards

CCG Hovercraft There are two hovercraft based at Vancouver Airport: Penac Siyay

CCG Hovercraft Penac

CCG Hovercraft Siyay

ROYAL CANADIAN MARINE SEARCH & RESCUE

RCM-SAR Southern Area Station 1 - Howe Sound Station 2 - Indian Arm Station 4 - Squamish Station 5 - Crescent Beach Station 8 - Delta

RCM-SAR Station 10 - Richmond Station 12 - Halfmoon Bay Station 14 - Gibsons Station 61 - Pender Harbour

RCM-SAR Northern Area Station 45 - Massett Station 62 - Klemtu Station 63 - Kitimat Station 64 - Prince Rupert Station 65 - Port Simpson Station 66 - Queen Charlotte

RCM-SAR Station 67 - Stewart Station 68 - Ocean Falls Station 69 - Sandspit Station 74 - Kitkatla Station 75 - Kincolith

RCM-SAR Central Area Station 20 - Salish Sea Station 25 - Gulf Islands Station 27 - Nanaimo Station 29 - Ladysmith Station 33 - Oak Bay Station 34 - Mill Bay

RCM-SAR Station 35 - Victoria Station 36 - Saanich Station 37 - Sooke Station 38 - Long Beach Station 39 - Port Alberni Station 42 - Kyoquot Station 43 - Port Alice

RCM-SAR Station 50 - Port McNeill Station 51 - Alert Bay Station 52 - Port Hardy Station 53 - Bamfield Station 54 - Campbell River Station 55 - Powell River Station 58 - French Creek

RCM-SAR Station 59 - Deep Bay Station 60 - Comox