Don’t be alarmed if you see a lot more ships than usual plying the waters of the Salish Sea today, it’s just the Canadian Coast Guard conducting maritime training exercises.
Together with the Canadian Armed Forces, Emergency Management BC, British Columbia Emergency Health Services, Public Safety Canada and BC Ferries, the coast guard will be leading a major maritime disaster exercise called “Exercise Salish Sea”.
Starting today and continuing through Thursday, the waters east of Salt Spring Island will be alive with activity as the various organizations help rescue more than 100 “survivors” from a doomed ferry, the Coastal Renaissance, after a fire on the lower deck “disabled” the vessel.
During the live training exercise today there will be a total of 15 vessels and aircraft deployed for the mock disaster exercise.
As part Exercise Salish Sea, the wounded are being taken to dry land on Salt Spring Island for triage at the Fernwood Dock.
Exercise in #BC, scenario: fire on BC ferry lower deck results in fire & disabled vessel. We are responding with partners. #BCEX17 pic.twitter.com/6wxn63sqoU
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CCG_GCC) October 25, 2017
#BCFHeadsup
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) October 25, 2017
Emergency-preparedness exercise held Oct 25 & 26 in #SouthernGulfIslands w/ #CoastalRenaissance #BCEX17 ^wsj pic.twitter.com/1Yen9A5cdL
Nous travaillons avec nos partiaires #SAR pour #saverdesvies #CCCOS @CCG_GCC @RCM_SAR @RCNavy @RCAF @PreparedBC @ARC #BCEX17 pic.twitter.com/iXZ4qMLtAh
— MARPAC/FMAR(P) (@MARPAC_FMARP) October 25, 2017
Exercise in #BC: Our Rescue Specialists & local ambulance crews working together with @BCFerries to triage & track survivors. #BCEX17 pic.twitter.com/6tdYFjFaAS
— Canadian Coast Guard (@CCG_GCC) October 25, 2017
