SAR Response

The marine incidents, usually involving multiple members of the public, served are:

• Commercial vessels & crews (capsized, foundering, run aground, adrift, or on fire)
• Recreational boaters (capsized, floundering, run aground, adrift, or on fire).
• Water sports missing or in trouble (SCUBA divers, canoe, kayak, PWC).
• Mountain rescue & hikers requiring marine access and evacuation.
• Marine emergency services include 911 support for Police, Fire, BC Ambulance and medical evacuations for some 500 marine only access island and Indian Arm residences / cottages.
• Missing persons (BC ferries, persons missing & overboard).
• Marine traffic control & environmental incident response.
• The Society lifeboats participate as safety vessels for public events such as the Celebration of Light, Polar Bear Swim, Sea2Summit adventure racing and childrens sailing regattas.

SAR activities are dispatched and directed by the Joint (Canadian Military/Coast Guard) Rescue Coordination Center in Victoria, in response to marine emergencies (VHF 16); and requests for marine support from the local 911 emergency response organizations.

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