NR-M-98-32E
Media Advisory
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Canadian Coast Guard
Coast Guard support for Swiss Air Flight 111
investigation continues
September 6, 1998
Dartmouth, N.S. -- The Canadian Coast Guard is continuing its
effort in support of the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) and RCMP investigations
into the crash of Swiss Air Flight 111 off Peggy´s Cove last Wednesday
night. The Coast Guard was the first agency on scene after the crash and
ships and boats from the Maritimes Region have been on scene since.
There are currently four Coast Guard ships involved in the search and
recovery operation, including the hydrographic survey vessel MATTHEW,
which carries sophisticated multi-beam and sidescan sonar equipment to
produce very high resolution, three-dimensional images of the ocean´s bottom.
This will aid in the identification of items requiring further investigation
by the TSB and the RCMP. The other Coast Guard ships in the area are the
CCGS EARL GREY, the CCGS MARY HICHENS and the
CCGS SIMON FRASER.
In addition to the larger Coast Guard vessels on scene, there are more
than a dozen smaller rescue craft including the Coast Guard cutter SAMBRO
and several inshore rescue boats. They have been joined by boats from the
Conservation and Protection Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
Coast Guard helicopters are also providing support to teams doing island
and coastline searches for debris from the crash.
The other significant Coast Guard contribution is coming from the volunteers
of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. These are predominantly local fishers
with training in search and rescue who are volunteering their efforts in
the recovery of surface debris. These vessels have also been active in
the search from the beginning.
Current activities include the ongoing search for debris on the
ocean surface. In addition, the MATTHEW is using its special bottom mapping
capabilities to gather data for the investigation. The MATTHEW earlier
located an object on the bottom which has not yet been identified. The
object was cylindrical in shape with an approximate diameter of ten metres.
Finally, the Coast Guard is gathering oil spill containment booms in the
area. These booms will be carried between two vessels in an effort to more
efficiently gather debris on the surface.
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For more information on the contribution of the Canadian Coast Guard
in this operation, please contact:
Scott Verret
Communications Manager
Coast Guard, Maritimes Region
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
(902) 426-6414
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