Canadian Forces Train for Maritime Emergencies
The exercise's scenario begins with a fire on BC Ferries' M/V Coastal Renaissance that causes passengers and crew members to evacuate. The two-day exercise simulates both search and rescue and a marine environmental response.
The Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Armed Forces, BC Ferries, Emergency Management BC, BC Emergency Health Services, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Public Safety Canada, and other organizations are participating in a major on-water emergency preparedness exercise in British Columbia's Gulf Islands area Oct. 25-26. Called "Exercise Salish Sea 2017," it allows the organizations to practice coordinated response for a maritime emergency scenario.
The exercise's scenario is a fire on BC Ferries' M/V Coastal Renaissance that causes passengers and crew members to evacuate. The ship was to be taken out of regular service Oct. 25 so 100 volunteers could evacuate for the search and rescue portion of the exercise and command of the incident was handed over from the Canadian Armed Forces to the Canadian Coast Guard.
On Oct. 26, CCGS Bartlett will be simulating the ferry near Salt Spring Island for the marine environmental response portion of the exercise, with an incident command post established by the Coast Guard at the Institute of Ocean Sciences in Sidney for that day.
The event's hashtag during the exercise is #BCEX17.