National Search and Rescue Program - Marine SAR Resources

Marine SAR Resources

Marine resources for responding to search and rescue incidents in Canada are coordinated by, and often supplied by, the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). Marine resources are most often tasked to respond to a marine incident in waters of federal jurisdiction, however, they can also be tasked to respond to incidents involving an aircraft if that should also occur in waters of federal jurisdiction.

• The CCG provides all primary marine resources for responding to SAR incidents in waters of federal jurisdiction. This includes dedicated SAR vessels stationed at strategic locations as well as the rest of the CCG fleet.

• Other vessels operated by other federal government departments and agencies such as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) or RCMP may be requested as secondary marine resources by the CCG.

• The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (CCGA) supplies civilian vessels sailed by volunteer owners in support of the CCG's SAR operations upon the request of the CCG.

• Under IMO conventions, any vessel of opportunity that may be transiting the search area may be requested by the CCG to participate in the search, provided the vessel of opportunity is able to.