FAW calling for independent investigation into emergency response to at-sea tragedies

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FOR THE SOU’WESTER

From the Telegram, Transcontinental Media

The province’s largest fisheries union is calling for an independent investigation into the response by federal authorities into a number of high-profile at-sea tragedies in recent years.

Earle McCurdy, president of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ union, says there are a lot of unanswered questions. He said internal reviews at Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Department of National Defence are not a substitute for a proper third-party evaluation of emergency response capabilities and procedures.

McCurdy made the comments in the wake of a recent provincial court decision on charges laid against the captain of a fishing vessel involved in a tragic accident at sea.

Shawn Ralph, captain of the Melina and Keith II, was fined $5,000 recently in provincial court in St. John's for violating several Canadian Shipping Act regulations during the boat's final voyage in September 2005. The 43-year-old from Eastport was convicted of five of eight charges, which were laid following Transport Canada's investigation into the ship's sinking which resulted in the deaths of four of the ship’s eight crewmembers. Family members have blamed a slow emergency response for the loss of life.

“The captain of the Melina and Keith II was subject to the full scrutiny of the courts and the news media,” McCurdy said. “There has been no public scrutiny of the response system of the federal authorities, but close examination is clearly required.”

McCurdy said the union is not interested in a “finger-pointing” exercise, but wants a full review of the response procedures and capabilities to make sure that the best possible search and rescue procedures are in place to deal with future emergencies.

“We are not taking issue with the search and rescue personnel, in fact there have been many cases where their response to emergencies has been heroic. But, we believe the response protocols and capabilities need a total review.”

He took particular issue with the slower response time for search and rescue aircraft on night shift than on day shift. He also felt the full potential of the electronic equipment on board fishing vessels is not being utilized in the response to distress calls.

McCurdy said the union feels a review is also needed of procedures on training exercises involving members of the coast guard auxiliary, in light of a fatality during a training exercise involving the vessel Sea Urchin. A recent fatality involving the tug boat Checkmate II also left a lot of unanswered questions, he said.

“There has been significant loss of life in these incidents,” he said, “to the point that an independent review is required that would include recommendations to improve our search and rescue capabilities and procedures in the future.”