BFRS Assist Boaters During Training Exercise

June 12, 2019

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service personnel conducting simulated water rescue training responded to a call for assistance on Monday [June 10] after boaters in the area couldn’t get their vessel’s engine started.

A BFRS spokesperson said, “The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service is participating in a Multi-agency Rescue Craft Training workshop from June 9th – June 14th, 2019.

“The program spearheaded by the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre aims to provide overview of search and rescue practices and procedures in and around the waters of Bermuda.

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service BFRS Water Rescue Training June, 2019 (3)

“With the key objectives of providing unilateral coordination for agencies providing support for water emergencies which includes, procedures, rescue techniques, search patterns, interface between the Bermuda Rescue Coordination Center, on scene emergency response craft and understanding the multi agencies roles and responsibilities in the rescue plan.

“Frontier Emergency Management Solutions based in Halifax Canada provided the specialists training for the combined services. The program will strengthen the operational responsibilities, build proficiency and interoperability of local agencies in the event of a waterborne emergency impacting the Islands of Bermuda.

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service BFRS Water Rescue Training June, 2019 (2)

“On Monday, we were in Murrays Anchorage involved with practical search, rescue and body retrieval exercises as part of the S.A.R [search and rescue] training course we are taking part in.

“We received a call via radio from Bermuda Maritime Operations Center – RCC who were also involved with the training exercise advising that there was a vessel close to our location that needed assistance. We ceased our training drill and went to the call for assistance, along with a pilot vessel from Marine and Ports.

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service BFRS Water Rescue Training June, 2019 (1)

“We came along side of the vessel and there were two men on board and they told us that their battery had gone dead and they were not able to start their motor.

“We used one of the batteries on the Fire and Rescue boat to start his motor and the captain of the vessel indicated to us that he was good and we updated Bermuda Maritime Operations Center – RCC and went back to our training.

Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service BFRS Water Rescue Training June, 2019 (4)

“About 1 hour later we received another call from Bermuda Maritime Operations Center – RCC saying that the same vessel we had just assisted was dead in the water and needed assistance again.

“We finished up the training evolution and went back to the vessel to assist.

“The captain informed us that his raw water cooling pump had broken and the motor overheated. We made up a tow rope and had it secured to the stricken vessel and towed them out of the main shipping channel back to their moorings in Mullet Bay, where they would have the problem fixed.”

Read More About

Category: Accidents and fires, All, News, Videos

Comments (9)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. Wahoo says:

    Glad they are safe and you guys got some practice. Was an inspection made of safety equipment on board the vessel?

  2. Onion Juice says:

    Good work, but an Island surrounded by water and no Navy?

    • Double S says:

      No navy because your Government left us with no money. Except they did somehow find umpteen millions of dollars to give to their former leaders and all their crony ‘consultants.’ Priorities OJ and yuo ain’t one of them. Hahaha.

      • wahoo says:

        This gov can’t even pick up trash and ya boy wants a navy! Maybe we could buy a second hand battleship with all de land grab money.

    • puzzled says:

      Onion.
      What type of “Navy” vessel would you like to have seen assist them.
      The photo’s supplied here are no where near Murray’s.

      Have a rum man and put the mouse down.

      • Toodle-oo says:

        A vessel suited to his character would be a destroyer !

    • question says:

      Yes, no Navy OJ. Because Bermuda is a barely significant little island with a tiny population. We can’t really even run our own bus fleet, so a Navy is out of the question. If naval help is needed, we will have to rely on bigger countries that have that resource, like the UK.

    • Bob n Margaret says:

      I know right, most countries have their own Navy with aircraft carriers and stuff. I don’t know why Bermuda doesn’t have that stuff. If we built a fleet of the biggest ships then it would create jobs for Bermudians, protect Bermuda from military hostility and save that guy in his Center Console. I can’t see a good reason not to other than the cost, the fact that we have no threat of military hostility, have no reasonable need for a Navy and because there are already services well capable of towing the guys center console.

  3. Kathy Somner says:

    Well done Sommy :)