HMCS Whitehorse responded to distress call on its way to Seafest

HMCS Whitehorse is in port as
part of the 2015 Seafest celebrations
(Photo from DND website)

Saturday they were marching in the Seafest parade, but three days previous the crew of the HMCS Whitehorse were engaged in more maritime adventures as they responded to a boat fire off the coast of Vancouver Island.

The Royal Canadian Navy news feed outlines the nature of a distress call which found the Whitehorse lending assistance to the 75 foot pleasure vessel Amora Mia, which had reported an engine fire on Wednesday afternoon.

When the Whitehorse had arrived on scene, the fire had been extinguished but the vessel was adrift without propulsion. The Navy ship then brought the pleasure craft under tow, received its passengers onboard and then handed it over to an inshore rescue boat between Robson Bight and Port McNeill at the northern end of Vancouver Island.

At the time of the incident, the Whitehorse was engaged in coastal operations, while making its way towards Prince Rupert for a port visit.

The ship arrived in town yesterday, with the crew participating in today's Seafest celebrations and hosting an Open ship event at the Canadian Coast Guard Base this afternoon.

According to the Seafest schedule, the navy ship is scheduled to be open to the public again on Sunday, with tours available from 10 AM to 2 PM.

You can review more about their response off Port McNeill from this item from the RCN website.

See this link for further background on the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels.

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