John Francis,
Bruce Peninsula Press
On Thursday, July 9, just after sunset, a Sea-Doo with two people aboard capsized in Tobermory’s outer harbour. Someone called *16 on their cell phone and reported it as a MAYDAY. *16 connects you instantly with Coast Guard Marine Communications Traffic Services (MCTS) in Sarnia. MCTS passed on the MAYDAY to the Search and Rescue (SAR) station in Tobermory. Tobermory SAR’s Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) left the dock within seconds and made the short trip to the outer harbour.
The elapsed time from the MAYDAY call to the arrival on scene was six minutes.
Tobermory Coast Guard were pleased with the outcome. The people were wearing life jackets; they stayed by their overturned vessel, which made them easy to find. There was no fuel spill. The Coast Guard were able to tow the Sea-Doo to the boat launch, where it was loaded onto a trailer.
Coast Guard Captain Zach McColman is enthusiastic about the *16 utility. “Dial *16 on any cell phone and it connects you directly to the MCTS. It’s the best way to report a marine emergency”.
