Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit 20

 

In last month’s article I described a vessel that went aground on a submerged reef near Georgeson Island.  We were tasked to this incident and stood by for the rising tide to lift the vessel free.  Why, you might ask, didn’t we tow the vessel off the reef?  There are several answers to this question primary among them is that the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) did not authorize us to do so.  All of our taskings are coordinated through the JRCC and we take our orders from them.

Our primary function is to protect lives with saving property a close secondary function.  In the grounding described in the last article the seas were calm and the vessel’s integrity was not compromised so neither of our prime objectives were triggered and the vessel was not towed off the rock.  In most cases when a vessel needs a tow a commercial marine towing service is called and we standby to ensure safety while the towing vessel is enroute.

Recently we had another interesting tasking.  At about 06:30 one morning the pagers went off indicating a mayday.  We have two levels of page including one for the less serious incidents such as a disabled vessel.  The higher level, the mayday, is where there is perceived or potential threat to life.  In the latter case every member who is able heads to the station to ensure that we have a fully crewed vessel to respond to a serious event.

In the case of the early morning tasking a BC Ferry transiting Plumper Sound reported a canoe drifting with no one onboard and there was concern that someone may have fallen out of the craft and hence the mayday page.  After some investigation and searching it was determined that no one had been onboard and that the canoe had not been secured properly and had likely broken loose by a storm or high tide.

We take every tasking seriously and fear the worst when paged to a mayday.  When paged we will always respond even in bad weather and high seas.  However I am sure no one wants us to take risks to rescue a canoe or kayak that drifts because it was not secured properly.  It is important to always secure your vessels large or small.  A canoe left bottom up and unattached on a dock in good weather may seem alright but may become adrift if the wind rises and waves wash over the dock.

The canoe from the tasking was towed back and the owner can claim it by contacting unit.20@ccga-p.ca and identifying it by size color etc.

 

Bob Vergette