On the evening of March 2nd,
413 Transport
and Rescue Squadron
was tasked to conduct
a search and rescue mission
of crew members
aboard a fishing vessel
off the coast of Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia.
Captain Jeremy Appolloni
joins us today
to tell us more about
this incredible effort.
Thanks for joining us today,
Captain Appolloni.
To start, can you give us
a quick overview
of the situation on March 2nd
and why 413 Squadron was tasked
to conduct a
search and rescue mission?
Yes. So I was
the aircraft commander
and the pilot flying
during this tasking.
I received the call shortly
after sundown, on March 2nd,
from the Rescue Coordination
Center in Halifax,
telling us that the
approximately 43-metre vessel
Atlantic Destiny was
suffering a fire on board
and they were taking on water
in rough sea states
and they were asking
for our assistance.
So I accepted the mission
as well as the C-130 Hercules
aircraft commander
who would be providing
top cover that evening.
And we went to work.
They took off sooner than we did
because they were in for a night
trainer and they went on scene
to establish communications
with the vessel,
to drop kit if able,
and as well to prepare to drop
flares to illuminate the horizon
so that we could fly in close
proximity to the vessel.
What were some of the challenges
that you and the team faced?
So the challenges were obviously
the weather conditions.
It's hard to train
in a storm like that.
We don't do it
but we train in situations
leading after that
so that we're ready
when that call comes.
Night is a challenge
in its own.
Eight-metre waves are
a challenge in their own.
They're like two to three-storey
apartment buildings
rolling through
and hitting the vessel.
The vessel being on fire
and taking on water meant
that time was not on our side.
And the winds were
very powerful as well
and they were rocking the boat
and preventing us from
manoeuvring the helicopter
any which way we had to point
into the wind.
How does this search
and rescue mission
compare to the previous ones
you've been part of?
So, it compares
in a couple of ways.
In a good way,
with the joint effort
of all the parties involved,
we were able to save
all 31 souls on board.
That's a highlight.
As well, having to deal
with that emergency
and leave my search
and rescue technicians
on board a vessel
that's on fire and sinking
was very uncomfortable,
as we transited back to land
knowing that two of our own
are still on the vessel
with the other fishers.
Anything you'd like to add?
Yes, I'd like to add
that that evening,
Sgt Brad Nisbet
and Sgt Fern Bianco
were the epitome of search
and rescue technician heroes,
and they used every piece of
training and experience they had
in order to save
all 31 souls off that vessel.
Thank so much
for joining us today.
My pleasure.
♪