SARNIA, ONTARIO – The Canadian Coast Guard reminds boaters on the Great Lakes, Georgian Bay and the St. Lawrence River that seasonal Search and Rescue Stations are closed during winter. Rescue boats cannot be operated in ice-infested waters, nor is navigation safe under the prevailing conditions.
Instead, Canadian Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard winter search and rescue operations will use icebreakers and may call on other vessels in the area to assist when required. Aircraft from the Department of National Defence and the United States Coast Guard may also be involved in search and rescue operations if necessary.
The Canadian Coast Guard’s most northerly search and rescue station in Ontario is located in Thunder Bay and closes for the season on November 30. Search and rescue stations located at Tobermory and Goderich will close December 7, and our stations in Meaford, Amherstburg, Port Dover, Port Weller, Cobourg and Kingston will close December 14.
These seasonal stations will resume operations in April 2013.
More information is available on the Canadian Coast Guard’s Search and Rescue program in the Central and Arctic Region.
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