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Volunteer Search and Rescue

8408760959 9692bba844 kRoyal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue's area of operation includes more than 29,500 square kilometers of coastline, 6,500 islands, and approximately 450,000 square kilometers of internal and offshore waters.

We are a SAR resource which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If necessary, our volunteers are willing and ready to risk their lives to help anyone in distress on the water.

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Pleasure Craft Operators Card

An important aspect of the mission of  RCM-SAR is to promote boating safety. A determining factor in the prevention of search and rescue incidents is effective boater education.

All boat operators of pleasure crafts fitted with a motor and used for recreational purposes in Canada must have the Card.

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 PCOC sample

Boating Safety

An important aspect of RCM-SAR's mission to save lives on the water is to promote boating safety. A determining factor in the prevention of search and rescue incidents is effective boater education.
Knowledgeable boaters are safe boaters and safe boaters are generally less likely to be involved in search and rescue incidents.  RCM-SAR has developed a variety of programs to convey the Boating Safety message to this broad range of recreational users.

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You can help Save Lives!

dsc 8560Hopefully, you will never require the marine search and rescue services provided by our 1,000 highly trained volunteers. But simply by living in or near British Columbia's coastal communities means that the chances are quite likely you will take a trip on or over water.
Perhaps you travel by ferry, seaplane or cruise ship. Perhaps your workplace involves marine shipping and transport. Perhaps you or a family member is involved with one of the many marine related industries in B.C. such as fishing, tourism or sea transport. All of these industries and travel sectors are vulnerable to the unpredictable nature of the sea.

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RCM-SAR Stations

Pender in foreground There are 46 stations currently with more coming online soon. These community-based stations are crewed by extremely dedicated and highly trained volunteers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

View RCM-SAR Station locations and details

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Latest News

Busy Long Weekend for Marine Rescuers

Published on 20 May 2013
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VICTORIA – May 20, 2013 - Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) crews were busy this long weekend responding to more than a dozen emergency calls in several locations in British Columbia.

Calls included:

  • RCM-SAR crews in Victoria responded to a collision between a large yacht and a smaller sailing vessel beneath the Johnson Street Bridge on Friday evening. Damage was extensive but there were no injuries.
  • A kite surfer was reported in difficulty near the White Rock pier on Saturday. When the Crescent Beach RCM-SAR crew arrived they were advised the person was safe on shore, but the crew conducted a search south of the pier for possible additional people involved. After two hours the search was halted with nothing found.
  • The Prince Rupert RCM-SAR rescue crew responded to a radio mayday transmission north of Prince Rupert on Sunday morning. Radio direction finding equipment indicated the transmission may have come from the Port Simpson area. After six hours and a search of more than 125 nautical miles, the search was called off. The transmission is now believed to have been a hoax.
  • On Monday morning an RCM-SAR crew and a paramedic attended a remote waterfront cabin on Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake where an elderly man had locked himself out, attempted to climb through a window and broken his ankle. He is now being treated in hospital.

Read more: Busy Long Weekend for Marine Rescuers

International SAR Exercise

Published on 03 May 2013
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On April 30th, 2013 members of the U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard and Air Force as well as volunteers from Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Station 64 participated in a joint search and rescue activity in Prince Rupert.

This was the first exercise of this magnitude in more than 7 years on the Northern Coast.

RCM-SAR 64 Prince Rupert was proud to participate in this extremely valuable interagency exercise. 

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Above photo provided courtesy of the Department of National Defence. 

Visit us at the 2013 Vancouver Boat Show

Published on 31 January 2013
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We are at the Vancouver International Boat Show again this year.  It runs from February 7th - 11th.  

We are at booth #234 on the concourse in BC Place.  As well we will have our Falkins Class Type II and our brand new Type I on display at the Granvillie Island location of the show.  

Come out and talk to our volunteers to get information about the Royal Canadian Marine Seach and Rescue organization and talk some Boating Safety!

Nanaimo & Ladysmith Joint Rescue

Published on 29 January 2013
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A January 27, 2013 training exercise turned into a dramatic rescue for RCMSAR Stations 27 Nanaimo and 29 Ladysmith.

Coxswains Mike Banning in 27 Bravo, Barry Franzmann, 27 and 29's Owen Popplestone and Bill Bond (first tasking as a Coxswain) were tasked with their crews to a Pan Pan from JRCC. "Something in the water" from a concerned citizen was the call.

Read more: Nanaimo & Ladysmith Joint Rescue

Media Line

A new 24-hour media line is now available for reporters needing information about Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCM-SAR) activities.

You can reach the media line at the RCM-SAR office in Sooke at 778 352-1006.  

For more information, click here. 

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Our thoughts are with Station 12 and the family and loved ones of those who tragically lost their lives on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

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An average incident costs $174 in fuel and equipment wear and tear just to have a single crew tasked. This amount does not include the initial purchase of the vessel or the purchase of sophisticated navigation.

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