Canadian maritime search and rescue program challenges

¶ … maritime search & Rescue

The search and rescue (SAR) program in Canada aims to save and protect lives within the maritime environment. Its objectives are to ensure that 100% of the lives at risk are saved, reduce severity and number of SAR accidents, minimize loss of life, injury property damage and any environmental risk, increase the awareness of SAR program and providing humanitarian aid and assistance where needed. However it has become increasingly difficult to achieve these objectives. This is as a result of several challenges that SAR administrators face as they try to improve the emergency response capabilities in Canada. The paper will look at some of the challenges that the Canadian maritime search and rescue program faces when it comes to an improvement of their emergency response capabilities.

Volunteers

The assistance of volunteers is an element that is key when it comes to the maximization of the efficiency of SAR operations. This means that volunteers are very important people when it comes to the success of maritime search and rescue programs. The number of volunteers who are offering their services to the SAR programs in Canada is going down. Fewer people are coming up to enroll themselves into these programs. This has left the administrators with very few volunteers to work with. This lack of volunteers is a big challenge when it comes to make an improvement in the response capabilities in Canada. This is due to the fact that a situation might require volunteers who are not available hence the SAR program fails to adequately deal with the situation (Tor Einar, 2010).

SAR vessels

There are various vessels which are used when it comes to maritime SAR accidents. These are primary SAR vessels which are designed specifically, equipped and crewed with its main responsibility being SAR operations. They are situated in areas where here exists high risk of SAR accidents. Multi-tasked SAR vessels are tasked to deliver SAR programs alongside other operational [programs. Secondary SAR vessels are government vessels that can be used if need arises for SAR operations. The number of vessels that are available in Canada is not sufficient enough to effectively carry out the SAR operations (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2012). There are incidences where a disaster has occurred but there are no sufficient vessels required to carry out the recovery operations. Therefore, inadequacy of SAR vessels is a huge challenge to the administrators in their attempts to improve their emergency capabilities.

Rescue co-ordination vessels and maritime rescue sub-centers

There is need for coordination between the SAR vessels and maritime rescue sub-centers for there to be efficient operations. The responsibility of the maritime rescue sub-centers is planning, coordinating, conducting and controlling the SAR operations. The rescue vessels are responsible for carrying out the actual rescue operation in cases where disasters occur.in most cases there is little or no cooperation between the maritime rescue sub-centers and the rescue vessels. The maritime rescue sub-centers within Canada in most instances do not involve the rescue vessels when it comes to planning and coordinating the SAR operations. This leads to disorganization when it comes to carrying out the actual operations (United Press International, Inc., 2013).

Global maritime distress and safety system

This global maritime distress and safety system was effected in 1999.it is a digital electronic communication system which has the capability of sending distress and safety messages. The GMDSS divides the world into four parts where communication coverage is done.in Canada however the GMDSS system has not been fully implemented since regions in the country have not ben effectively been put into respective regions. This therefore posses a great challenge when it comes to effective communication during SAR operations (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2012).

Communication

There are various ways that can be used to communicate distress by vessels. These are visual, audible and electronic methods. The most commonly used methods are distress flares, signal flags which are used internationally whistles and horns. There is also use of radio calls to make communications. However, these are often not enough to significantly pass on the desired information.in many cases the distress calls are not passed on efficiently and hence it becomes very difficult to effectively determine if there is actually an accident that has occurred. This therefore compromises the effectiveness of communications thus it becomes very difficult to carry out the operations if communication of the occurrence of an accident is poor (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2013).

Expertise

A lot of expertise is required when carrying out the SAR operations. Those involved in these operations should be people who have expertise.in Canada the volunteers and people involved in these programs lack the expertise that is required. They do not have the required skills and knowledge when it comes to carrying out operations. This is a challenge when it comes to improve the emergency response capabilities in Canada due to the fact that a particular skill might be required which is not available among the operators. For instance there are very few volunteers who know how to give first aid. Therefore in a scene there is inadequacy when it comes to giving first aid (Tor Einar, 2010).

Absence of influence from politics

For any program to be effective it should be backed by politicians.in Canada the SAR operations are not under the government.in fact the funds to run these operations are mainly got from the people. The Canadian citizens pay dearly for these operations to be carried out through the taxes which they remit (United Press International, Inc., 2013).

Adequate level of leader ship

Leadership is a key factor for nay institution or program to be successful. The leadership in the SAR programs in Canada is not efficient enough. There are no good leaders in place to ensure that the objectives of the program are fully realized. With no sound leaders in place to head the program it means that the operations are not properly guarded and hence they are not effective enough.

Command and co-ordination structures

There is need for efficient structures when it coms to command and coordination of the SAR program. In Canada there are no sufficient structures in place which will ensure that the SAR operations are well commanded and co-ordinated. Without command and coordination in the Canadian SAR operations then it means that their operations are not well organized hence they are not fully effective (Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 2013).

Conclusion

As discussed it is evident that the administrators of the SAR programs in Canada face enormous challenges when it comes to improving the emergency responses.it is hence important to find a solution to the challenges presented so that emergency responses can be improved.