Marine Rescue, Safety and Environmental Response - CCG

Marine Rescue, Safety and Environmental Response services are provided by the Canadian Coast Guard. The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) works to make Canadian waters as safe and clean as possible.

Rescue, Safety and Environmental Response saves lives by promoting boating safety and providing search and rescue (SAR) resources. The program also keeps the marine environment safe by monitoring and cleaning spills.

Eligibility Criteria

CCG Rescue, Safety and Environmental Response Program benefits a number of clients, including:

• all Canadians interested in the protection of the marine environment;
• pleasure craft owners;
• commercial vessels;
• fisheries and marine industries.

Summary

CCG Rescue, Safety and Environmental Response services are delivered by various teams:

Search and Rescue (SAR) team with small vessels and lifeboats, a number of inshore rescue boats, air cushion vehicles and a few larger multi-tasked ships. Its services include:

• monitoring for mariners in distress and rescuing them;
• coordinating the CCG Auxiliary, a volunteer marine rescue program.

Office of Boating Safety  works in partnership with boaters to ensure safe boating, by:

• offering courtesy examinations for small vessels;
• providing marine safety information and advice;
• implementing standards for boats and safety equipment such as personal flotation devices.

Small Vessel Partnerships cooperates with regional and national recreational boating advisory councils to improve boating safety.

Environmental Response team has the largest federal inventory of marine pollution control equipment in Canada. Its services include:

• monitoring and responding to marine oil spills and chemical emergencies;
• developing and refining standards that improve Canada's preparedness and response regime;
• initiating and supporting new spill response methods and technology.

Emergency Preparedness develops strategies to respond to all national emergencies involving the department, and conducts exercises to test the effectiveness of these plans.

Quebec Contact(s):
See National Contact.

---

National Contact(s):
National Capital Region only
Safety and Environmental Response Systems
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Station S041, 5th Floor
Centennial Towers
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E6
Fax: 613-996-8902
TTY (hearing impaired): 613-941-6517
E-mail: info@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/home-accueil_e.htm
Hours of operation: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday (Eastern time).