DT News interview: Capt Appolloni and 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron conduct a search and rescue
Video / March 24, 2021
Transcript
(E) On the evening of March 2nd, 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron was tasked to conduct a search and rescue 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?
(J) 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.
(E) What were some of the challenges that you and the team faced?
(J) 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.
(E) How does this search and rescue mission compare to the previous ones you've been part of?
(J) 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.
(E) Anything you'd like to add?
(J) 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.
(E) Thank so much for joining us today.
(J) My pleasure.
Page details
- Date modified: