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Featured SAR Volunteer Association
Modernizing the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

By François Vézina, CCGA

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008. Looking back, its 4,200 volunteers commemorated over 50,000 missions performed during that period, which contributed to the excellent Canadian ratio of 94% (lives saved/lives at risk) in marine SAR. Looking ahead, CCGA members could also see that the organization is facing several new challenges.

A helicopter of 103 Search and Rescue Squadron is undertaking a helicopter hoisting exercise with a CCGA ship from Nova Scotia. Photo Credit: François Vézina

As the primary search and rescue (SAR) partner of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), the Auxiliary renewed its Contribution Agreement with the CCG in March 2008, for a five year period. The agreement provides funding for operations, training, insurance and administration of the CCGA across Canada where the 1,200 Auxiliary units provide SAR services that are complementary to those provided by the CCG.

The profile of the Coast Guard Auxiliary membership remains a well-balanced mix of pleasure boaters and commercial fishermen. Likewise, the Auxiliary fleet includes owner-operated vessels (pleasure crafts and fishing vessels); it also includes SAR dedicated vessels and community vessels owned by SAR rescue societies.

The following recent studies allowed the CCGA to review its management structure, needs analysis and training programs:

Governance Review Initiative (2006)

The primary objective of the governance review was to help improve the ability of each CCGA organization to work more effectively with each other and with the Canadian Coast Guard, with the ultimate goal of maintaining and improving the delivery of SAR services to Canadians.

CCG SAR Needs Analysis (2007)

The SAR Needs Analysis studied Canada’s maritime SAR system over the five-year period 2000–2004 (inclusive). It evaluated each of Canada’s 39 statistical SAR areas, using the same methodology in each area. The SAR system was assessed to identify opportunities for improvement based on:

• Level of service (i.e., rate of effectiveness);
• The system’s coverage capacity and capability in each statistical area; and
• Future implications of client activity trends

Training Review (2008)

The objectives of this review were to provide a national overview of ongoing training activities and programs across the five regional auxiliaries and to:

• Assess the relevance of those activities to the CCGA National Training Standards 2001;
• Identify regional trends, variances and issues affecting CCGA training standards, delivery mechanisms and administration;
• Review recommendations of past evaluations of the CCGA as it pertains to training; and
• Recommend possible course of actions to improve the training portfolio in the CCG-CCGA partnership.

In order to better train its members, the CCGA is proceeding to the deployment of several new initiatives, such as the SAR Management System, the Fast Rescue Craft Simulator and the NETsim simulator, originally developed by the Pacific region.

The SAR Management System (SMS)tracks all aspects of marine SAR in a unified, automated database. Reports are available at any time via the secured web interface.

The Tolonen is the latest addition to the CCGA-Pacific fleet, being operated by Auxiliary Unit 35 in Victoria, BC. Photo Credit: François Vézina

The CCGA-Pacific simulator is a completely immersive fast rescue craft simulator, which includes an accurate mathematical modeling of vessel motion. It contains a mock-up of an actual fast response craft cabin, complete with real vessel controls and equipment, which makes for a truly realistic experience.

The NETsim is a virtual simulator that has the standard marine navigational equipment used on most rescue crafts. NETsim can be accessed by anyone with a computer and a high-speed Internet connection. It allows CCGA members to gain marine navigation knowledge and to practice skills in a virtual environment.

Both the Simulator and NETsim allow the Auxiliary to reduce training costs and minimize risks associated with training. However, despite all these advances in technology, the delivery of marine SAR services remains a risky venture.

François Vézina is the National Business Manager of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary. (www.ccga-gcac.org)

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