Canadian, U.S. coast guards train for tour vessel disaster off Victoria
A large-scale Canadian Coast Guard exercise was held near the Trial Islands off Victoria on Thursday, with members of the U.S. Coast Guard and local first responders.
The scenario was a whale-watching vessel catching fire, with multiple injured people in the water and on the shore.
A large-scale Canadian Coast Guard exercise was held near the Trial Islands off Victoria on Thursday, with members of the U.S. Coast Guard and local first responders. (CTV News)
Several coast guard cadets played the injured victims onboard the burning boat, along with life-sized dummies floating in the water.
Rescue boats transported the injured passengers to Ogden Point where paramedics and firefighters s were waiting to asses and treat the victims.
The coast guard says the purpose of the on-water training is to practise search and rescue techniques, risk assessment and other related skills in case of a real disaster.
“It’s a constant risk we have here on the coast and we need to be ready to respond and these types of exercises are the best way to increase that level of preparedness,” says Mariah McCooey, the western region superintendent of maritime search and rescue for the Canadian Coast Guard.
“Getting out there on the water and testing out our interoperability, communication and then that key infrastructure with the shore side and the handoff of patients.”
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Blue Shark participated in the exercise, bringing an extra element of realism to the scenario.
McCooey says the Canadian and US coast guards work regularly with each other during incidents in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“It really did put everyone through the test,” says McCooey. “That’s really important for figuring out where we have areas to improve and also the things we were doing really well.”
Although the full analysis of the mock disaster is not yet complete, the rescue exercise was considered a success Thursday.
The Canadian Coast Guard is planning similar training events in the region next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.