Royal Canadian Marine Search & Rescue • Station 1 - West Vancouver

09/02/2026

On Saturday August 29th at 13:36 Station 1 was tasked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre [JRCC] to assist a vessel in distress between Gambier and Port Mellon in Thornbrough Channel.

The weekend duty crew readied SAR 1 and departed Horseshoe Bay an impressive 4 minutes later at 13:40.

After arriving on scene and locating the Personal Watercraft (Jet Ski/Sea-Doo) the crew ensured that the vessels operator and passenger were in good condition. Aside from being shaken by the situation they were in good health.

The crew helped them aboard SAR 1, secured the tow line to the PWC and towed the vessel to Britannia Beach.

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08/26/2026

On August 23rd at 02:36 Station 1 was tasked by Emergency Managment BC to assist with a wildfire, caused by a lightning strike on Passage Island.

Our weekend duty crew responded and transported crews from Metro Vancouver Emergency Managment to Passage Island.

The Metro Vancouver Emergency Managment team fought the fire on passage for over 11 hours, before it was fully extinguished.

At 13:45 the relief crew returned with the Metro Vancouver Emergency Managment members to the dock in Horseshoe Bay.

08/23/2026

Station 1 is currently responding, alongside Metro Vancouver Emergency Managment, to a wildfire on Passage Island resulting from last nights storm.

You will see us on the water this am transiting between Horseshoe Bay and Passage.

More details to follow.

07/22/2026

On Tuesday, July 21st, at 15:35, Station 1 was tasked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) to assist a vessel on fire east of Bowyer Island.

The two occupants of the vessel were able to escape in to their dinghy after attempting to extinguish the fire on their own. Despite expelling two on-board fire extinguishers the fire was able to persist.

SAR 1 responded and arrived on scene at approximately 15:50. After confirming that the only occupants were safe in their tender, members of Station 1 and the Canadian Coast Guard vessel Kits 1 went on board to locate the source of the fire and extinguish it.

Once the fire was confirmed out and not likely to reignite, the vessel’s crew reboarded and returned to their dock, escorted by Kits 1.

Excellent interagency collaboration led to a positive outcome.

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07/04/2026

Yesterday, July 2 2026, Station 1 was tasked by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) at 18:35 to search for a missing person whose vehicle was found abandoned on the BC Ferries vessel Queen of Coquitlam upon its arrival in Horseshoe Bay from Langdale.

Both SAR 1 and SAR 1 Bravo were launched to participate in the extensive multi agency search operation.

Working alongside the Canadian Coast Guard Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue - Station 14 Gibsons Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue - Station 4 Squamish and the RCMP crews on both vessels searched along the ferry route as well as portions of the various shorelines in Southern Howe Sound.

The individual was not found. RCMP are asking anyone with any information regarding the whereabouts of Joyelle Goldbard to contact Sunshine Coast RCMP.

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07/02/2026

Happy Canada Day!

Yesterday, Station 1 was honoured to accept an invitation to visit the Canadian Coast Guard vessel, Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

Thank you to the commanding officer, as well as the crew of the Grenfell for having us aboard.

It was informative, but more importantly a lot of fun!

Always great to strengthen our connection with the agencies we work alongside.

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06/18/2026

On Tuesday June 16th at 17:43 Station 1 was tasked by the Canadian Coast Guard Regional Operations Centre (ROC) to investigate a 30 foot sailing vessel that was reportedly dragging anchor in Mannion Bay.

Upon arriving on scene the vessel was found adrift outside of Mannion Bay with its anchor ball and line still attached.

The vessel was towed to a safe position and re anchored.

After confirming the vessel was now secure at anchor, SAR 1 returned to base in Horseshoe Bay.

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06/16/2026

Today at 17:31 Station 1 was tasked by EMCR (Emergency Managment and Climate Readiness) to assist Lions Bay Search and Rescue with an injured cliff jumper. After being accessed and stabilized onshore by a member of LBSAR, an emergency physician, the patient was transported on SAR 1, along with the doctor to Horseshoe Bay pier.

The patient was then handed off to BCEHS and taken for further treatment.

A fantastic response from Lions Bay Search and Rescue, and a great assist from our crew.

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05/25/2026

There was a heavy presence of West Vancouver Police Canadian Coast Guard and BCEHS first responders on the pier and around Station 1 this afternoon.

We were not directly involved.

Man Dies in Scuba Diving Incident

At 1:26 p.m. today, West Vancouver Police received a call of a scuba diver in distress off Whytecliff Park. Multiple agencies, including West Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services, B.C. Emergency Health Services, and the Canadian Coast Guard arrived to provide assistance, but tragically, the 50-year-old man was declared deceased at the scene. 

The man’s next of kin have been notified. There are no indications of suspicious circumstances related to his sudden death. 

The West Vancouver Police Department extends our deepest condolences to this man’s family and friends, and all those who witnessed this incident today. Anyone impacted by today’s events is encouraged to reach out to Victim Services for assistance by calling 604-925-7468 or through the WVPD website at westvanpolice.ca.

05/05/2026

MAYDAY-- Whale Strike Stanley Park

Yesterday, May 4th, at 19:35, SAR 1B responded to a MAYDAY call whilst training.

The broken radio call described a collision between an operator of a personal watercraft and a whale in the general vicinity of Siwash Rock.

The operator of the Sea-Doo was travelling at a high rate of speed and was ejected from their vessel during the collision with the whale.

A sailboat in the area was able to get the injured operator onto their vessel and administer basic first aid before SAR 2 (North Vancouver) and SAR 1B arrived on scene to administer care to the patient.

The patient was assessed by First Responders from both Station 2 and Station 1 before being packaged and transported on SAR 2 to BCEHS at the Main Street Dock.

A great collaborative effort between the vessel of opportunity, Station 2 and Station 1.

Now, to address the safety of the whale. There is absolutely no way for us to assess the health of the gray whale, but it was seen in the area coming up to breathe.

It is the responsibility of all boaters to maintain situational awareness at ALL times. It is the responsibility of ALL boaters to operate their vessel at a safe speed.

It is the law to maintain a minimum of 100 m distance between your vessel and any whale, dolphin, or porpoise.

In many cases, it is the law to maintain 400 m between your vessel and whales. We encourage everyone to maintain a distance of 400 m whenever they see a whale.

The Marine Education and Research Society has fantastic resources, including an online course, to allow you to become a whale-safe boater.

Marine Education & Research Society

Rcmsar North Vancouver

Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue