Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue keep boaters safe

Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Coxswain Russ
Ayers-Berry of the RCM-SAR Gibsons station conducts on-water
training in Howe Sound. Ayers-Berry is one of about 1,000
RCM-SAR search and rescue volunteers in British Columbia
who rely on public donations to stay equipped and trained.
Photo submitted

A major help and resource for our boating residents and visitors is the Sunshine Coast division of the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue or RCM-SAR.

You may see them at local docks and marinas or out on the waves doing SAR prevention, as they perform courtesy pleasure craft checks and on the water safety checks.

Perhaps you’ve seen them in the Sechelt Canada Parade or at the Halfmoon Bay Country Fair as they came to promote water safety for kids with “Bobby” their safety mascot, who robotically “floats” about and sprays water.

And most of their crews still hold down day jobs while giving communities and boaters a lifeline.

“We’re an all volunteer organization,” notes communications director, Rob Duffus, “with over 1000 volunteers up and down the Coast and in the Interior as well.”

Duffus explained they have 42 stations up and down the B.C. Coast including stations in Gibsons, Halfmoon Bay and Pender Harbour, with crews who engage in search and rescue on emergency calls.

“We actually handle about a third of all the search and rescue calls in B.C. – that’s about 800 missions a year, so we’re very active,” the communications director emphasized.

“All the stations are on call 24/7, 365 days a year,” Duffus explains, “the crews are on rotations, be it weekends or certain week days, whatever works for their lifestyle, but they spend a lot of time on call – they’re very dedicated.”

And they can’t go to search for or rescue people in emergency situations without sturdy rescue equipment and vessels. And for that they require some help from a few different sources.

“We rely on public support in communities like the Sunshine Coast, we also are supported by the provincial government’s gaming grants, which largely goes to the purchase of vessels and equipment,” RCM SAR’s spokesperson explained, “and we get some funding from the Canadian Coast Guard for training and missions.”

He added they are actively fund raising for their new regional training centre in Victoria – this will be where all their volunteers will come to train in their vessel simulator. They will also do first aid, leadership, communications and a whole range of courses.

“Because we really emphasize training, because it really adds to the safety for our volunteers,” Duffus noted, “and it also ensures that we provide an excellent service out on the water.”

Since January 2014, stations across the province have been called out on 392 missions and assisted 227 people on the water. As always, the Sunshine Coast stations have been busy. Since January 1 those stations have responded to 38 missions and assisted 15 people.

If you want to reach RCM SAR to donate, volunteer, or to get info about your local station or RCM SAR in general, just visit their website at www.rcmsar.com

Apryl Veld