Joint search and rescue training exercise interrupted by prank flare

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canadian Coast Guard, local fishing vessels, and cormorant helicopter from 413 Squadron in Greenwood were an hour and a half into their search patterns as directed by the command centre on the CCGS Edward Cornwallis off Clark’s Harbour, when the exercise turned into a “no duff” situation.

The vessels and helicopter were redirected to the reported origin of the flare and searchlights combed the rocky shoreline between Woods Harbour and Shag Harbour.

The RCMP also investigated the flare sighting. It’s suspected the flare was a prank.

John Drake, a search and rescue preparedness officer with the Canadian Coast Guard, is in charge of coordinating participants in the exercise. He expressed disappointment that the team didn’t get to do complete the exercise.

“Anything like that you have to investigate, of course, but we would have liked to have spent more time with the (new) thermal imaging equipment on the Clark’s Harbour and get some hoisting done with the Coast Guard auxiliary vessels in the area,” he said.

This is the third time in a row that similar exercises have been interrupted. One incidence took place off PEI when the rescue of three young males who flipped their boat took precedence. In late September 21 people participating in an exercise in the Bay of Islands off Newfoundland were evacuated from a lifeboat belonging to Marine Atlantic’s MV Leif Ericson because of breathing difficulties.

The next joint search and rescue exercise is tentatively planned for mid-November off Clark’s Harbour, Westport; or Shippegan, New Brunswick.