Marine rescues tested in weekend exercises
Coast Guard, firefighters train on lakes Erie and Ontario
Another busy summer on Lake Erie is around the corner, which is why a number of search and rescue teams are getting prepared for it.
Exercises also on Lake Ontario this weekend were practice for the Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Department of National Defence and Niagara CARES unit of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association.
On Saturday, Port Colborne Marine Auxiliary Rescue (POCOMAR) unit and the private CCGA unit Dirt Water Fox, based on the Niagara River but which had to pull out, co-ordinated the exercises with the CCG Cape Lambton, a motor lifeboat based in
Port Dover, along with Fort Erie Fire Department on the eastern end of Lake Erie.
Aircraft from the Canadian Air Force base in Trenton, Ont., was also brought in to play a role in SAREX, an annual exercise that takes place near the end of May.
Led by Canadian Coast Guard Central and Arctic District 2 training co-ordinator Ryan Glaves, the series of tasks is a way to get everyone up to speed and make sure the many agencies who often work with one another are prepared and ready to go.
“It allows us to get ahead of the game as far as all our procedures,” he said.
“And it gives us a reset to see exactly where we are as far as training is concerned,” added Glaves.
Fort Erie Fire Department and POCOMAR vessels were sent to search for four to five people in the water as the result of a boat collision in the area of Point Abino in Crystal Beach as the first call of the day’s training exercise.
POCOMAR’s main vessel located four people, represented by rescue mannequins in the water near Point Abino, and brought them on board.
After that, fire department and POCOMAR vessels were sent west toward Wainfleet and Haldimand County for separate searches.
POCOMAR was searching for an overdue sailboat with people in the water and then was later sent to help a disabled vessel with one person in the water.
Jamie Fraser, executive officer with POCOMAR, said the training day allows the men and women on his team to become reacquainted with the other agencies they work with on the water, after having the winter off.
“It gives us the opportunity to understand their capabilities and limitations,” he said.
A serious search and rescue mission on the lake isn’t something that happens often, but being prepared for it is very important.
“Thankfully they are few and far between — but we have to train to the highest standard,” Fraser said.