CANADIAN COAST GUARD TO LEAD MAJOR SEARCH AND RESCUE EXERCISE – SAREX 2006

october 13, 2006

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), BC Ferries, and several key agencies will be engaged in a major search and rescue (SAR) exercise this Sunday, October 15th, to evaluate inter-agency response to a major marine disaster.

"Public safety is a key concern of Canada’s New Government," said the Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. "This exercise, with the Canadian Coast Guard as the lead agency, will improve the ability of Canada’s search and rescue program to respond to a major marine disaster on the B.C. coast."

Dubbed SAREX 2006 -‘Ship-to-Shore’, the exercise is a realistic simulation of a major maritime incident that could occur in British Columbia’s coastal waters. The scenario was developed by representatives from agencies involved in the exercise and is designed to improve inter-agency communications and operations during a large scale emergency operation.

The real-time, real-world scenario will include the evacuation of 200 volunteers from the Canadian Forces, Royal Canadian Sea Army and Air Cadets, Victoria Police and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. The volunteers will be acting as passengers on the 129.97 m, BC Ferries Queen of Nanaimo.

In addition to helicopter hoists of simulated victims from the deck of the ferry, volunteers will evacuate the vessel via its state-of-the-art, marine evacuation system. Passengers will disembark the ferry using a system of slides and rafts, which allow safe and efficient evacuation in 30 minutes or less.

Platforms from several different agencies will be used in the scenario including the CCG Hovercraft Penac, CCG Cutter Cape Kuper, Canadian Forces ships and helicopters. RCMP, Victoria Police Department and CCG Auxiliary rigid hull inflatable boats will also be assisting in various roles.

Other agencies participating in the scenario include:

• B.C. Ambulance Service

• Canadian Red Cross

• Joint Rescue Coordination Centre

• MARPAC Joint Operations Centre
• Peninsula Emergency Measures Organization (PEMO)
• Provincial Emergency Program
• Transportation Safety Board
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Vancouver Island Health Authority

The exercise will take place on Sunday, October 15th, in the waters off the Saanich Peninsula near Cowichan Bay and run from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m. SAREX 2006 meetings will continue after the completion of the exercise to discuss and assess and the details of the exercise.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Dan Bate Communications Officer Canadian Coast Guard Fisheries and Oceans Canada (604) 775-8809 (604) 209-6225
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