YARMOUTH, N.S. — Crew members of the Atlantic Destiny fishing vessel were airlifted to safety and to the Yarmouth Airport overnight after an emergency situation at sea that could have had a dire outcome but instead sees crew members thankfully being reunited with their families.
Search and rescue assets and nearby fishing boats were called to the aid of the vessel, which was in distress far off the coast of Nova Scotia on Tuesday evening.
Weather conditions were unforgiving and dangerous at the time of the rescue. A gale warning and freezing spray warning were part of the marine forecast.
Initially a mayday call was made, reporting a fire onboard and saying the vessel and its 31-member crew needed immediate assistance.
Additional Imagery of the FV Atlantic Destiny last night. pic.twitter.com/ISTmpCHBCr
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
Later, the vessel — which was fishing about 120 nautical miles off of Yarmouth on Georges Bank — also lost power and was adrift in eight-metre seas in 55-knot winds, while taking on water.
The crew was safely transferred off of the vessel as the situation unfolded.
The Atlantic Destiny — an offshore scallop dragger based out of Riverport, Lunenburg County — had issued the emergency mayday on the evening of March 2 after a fire broke out around 8:30 p.m.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Halifax said on Twitter that it was “responding to an ongoing emergency” onboard the FV Atlantic Destiny.
RESCUE ASSETS TASKED
The JRCC tasked a CH-149 Cormorant and a CC-130 Hercules from 14 Wing Greenwood to the scene, along with the CCGS Cape Roger. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter also provided assistance.
The JRCC also said a fishing vessel was in vicinity of the Atlantic Destiny and was standing by to assist.
Around midnight, JRCC tweeted: "All fires are out but water continues to come in. A small crew will remain onboard to continue to assess the situation. SAR assets will remain on scene to assist as required."
"Our CH149 Cormorant from 14 Wing Greenwood has commenced extracting non-essential crew from the vessel," said JRCC late Tuesday evening. "The USCG Helo is also on station and will recover additional personnel. All evacuated crew will be flown to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia."
Our CH149 Cormorant from 14 Wing Greenwood has commenced extracting non-essential crew from the vessel. The USCG Helo is also on station and will recover additional personnel. All evacuated crew will be flown to Yarmouth, NS.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
Additionally, it is now reported that there were 32 crew onboard the vessel. All fires are out but water continues to come in. A small crew will remain onboard to continue to assess the situation. SAR assets will remain on scene to assist as required.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
There was some discrepancy in the number of crew on the vessel that was first reported. Initially JRCC tweeted there were 31 but late adjusted that number to 32. The company that owns the vessel had initially stated in a media release there were 32 crew members, but later confirmed the number to be 31.
ON DRY LAND
As the timeline unfolded, Lt.-Cmdr. Brian Owens of the Halifax Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said at 12:15 a.m. that those initially taken off of the vessel would be flown to the Yarmouth Airport and that EHS would be on scene as a precaution.
In a followup on Wednesday morning, he said the master of the ship had determined early in the morning that they were not able to stop water from entering the vessel. The decision was made to abandon it. The remaining crew members and SAR techs that had stayed behind were transfered to the CCGS Cape Roger.
Owens said at 8 a.m. that the Atlantic Destiny was still afloat and that the Cape Roger and other vessels in the area were monitoring the situation. The file had been turned over to the Coast Guard.
JRCC later tweeted that at 10:36 a.m. Wednesday morning the vessel sank.
Video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Briana Carter of the U.S. Coast Guard, whose crews assisted in the rescue:
This was many hours after the crew safely landed at the Yarmouth airport. In the early hours of March 3, a CH-149 Cormorant arrived at the Yarmouth airport with the first crew members at about 1:25 a.m.
A few minutes after 3 a.m., a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter landed at the airport with more crew members.
Several ambulances and other EHS vehicles were on scene and paramedics were inside the terminal building where a triage station was set up to provide medical attention.
The local Red Cross office, assisted by the local Regional Emergency Management Organization, also set up a comfort zone for the crew, providing blankets, food and coffee. In keeping with COVID-19, protocols there were also masks and hand sanitizer available.
A few crew members were transported to hospital to be further checked out.
Those on the ground in Yarmouth had sprung into action to be ready for when the crew arrived.
"The Canadian Red Cross volunteer team for Yarmouth County team provided blankets, food and hot beverages for incoming evacuees and also registered the names of arriving crew to pass along to the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre to help them account for everyone brought ashore," said Dan Bedell, communications director for the Atlantic Canadian Red Cross. "Our team also booked hotel rooms for the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew. The vessel’s owners looked after hotel lodging needs for Atlantic Destiny crew. Red Cross volunteers also booked and paid for taxis to get evacuees and aircrews to hotels."
'WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL'
Ocean Choice International, the owners of the Atlantic Destiny, says a total of 27 crew members were safely taken via helicopter to Yarmouth where they received medical attention, food and accommodations.
As mentioned, at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning the final four crew members and two Search and Rescue technicians, who stayed with the remaining crew, were safely transferred from the vessel via the Canadian Coast Guard vessel the Cape Roger and were enroute for port in Nova Scotia. The vessel was not expected to arrive until very late at night.
"The seas are still challenging so they are taking their time," said Lt.-Cmdr. Owens midway through the day on Wednesday.
The company, meanwhile, said it was deeply thankful all of the crew had been rescued.
“The safety of our employees is our top priority. It is what matters most to us,” said Martin Sullivan, CEO Ocean Choice in a media release on Wednesday morning. “Our hearts are with our crew and their families at this extremely stressful time. We are extremely grateful that there were no injuries resulting from the fire; and that all 32 crew members are returning safely to their families and loved ones.”
THE EMERGENCY SITUATION
On Tuesday evening JRCC said that the master of the vessel had called to report a fire onboard. No details about the fire were provided by JRCC at the time.
As time passed JRCC later said, "That fire was extinguished but re-ignited. Additionally, they are reporting taking on water. The vessel has lost power and is adrift in 8-metre seas and 55-knot winds.”
Owens said in an email at 11:45 p.m. that a conversation between the JRCC and the master of the vessel at about 10:30 p.m. had indicated that at that time the crew was still onboard the Atlantic Destiny.
The master of the vessel called JRCC Hfx to report a fire onboard. That fire was extinguished but re-ignited. Additionally, they are reporting taking on water. The vessel has lost power and is adrift in 8m seas and 55kts winds.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
Efforts continued to try and turn things around. At about 12:30 a.m., the JRCC said those on the vessel had reported that they were able to restore generator power to the vessel.
But still, there were problems.
"Onboard pumps are operating but the crew are still trying to control the water coming into the vessel," the JRCC tweeted.
The vessel has reported that they were able to restore generator power to the vessel. Onboard pumps are operating but the crew are still trying to control the water coming into the vessel.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
Halifax Coast Guard radio had earlier put out a mayday relay reporting the fire on the Atlantic Destiny, saying the 44-metre vessel was in need of immediate assistance.
Vessels in the area that could assist were asked to contact Halifax Coast Guard radio with an ETA of when they would be on the scene. The Marine Traffic website showed the vessels Cape Lehave, Maude Adams, Atlantic Preserver and Atlantic Protector to be close by or in the vicinity.
Ocean Choice International says the Cape LaHave, Maude Adams, Atlantic Preserver and the Atlantic Protector did all come to the aid of the crew.
“The collective efforts of our crew and all those who came to assist the crew and the vessel resulted in the best possible outcome for this situation,” said Blaine Sullivan, President, Ocean Choice. “We are sincerely thankful to everyone that helped ensure that every single crew member is safe and accounted for.”
Upon hearing of the fire, Ocean Choice said it had provided family members with updates on the ongoing situation and the status of their loved ones. The company also made arrangements to provide the crew and their families with free access to support and counselling services.
"Ocean Choice will work with the proper authorities and an investigation into the cause of the fire will commence over the coming days. At this time, the company is unsure of the extent of the damage of the vessel," the company said in a March 3 morning media release.
Imagery of the transfer of the final four crew from the FV Atlantic Destiny and the two SAR Techs to the CCGS Cape Roger this morning. At 1036 AST, the FV sunk.
— HfxJRCC_CCCOS (@hfxjrcc) March 3, 2021
The Cape Roger is now heading towards Shelburne, NS. pic.twitter.com/dAMrSPnwmK
The Atlantic Destiny is one of Ocean Choice’s six offshore fishing vessels. The vessel harvests frozen at sea scallops. Riverport, Nova Scotia is the port of call for the vessel. At the time of the incident the vessel was in the Georges Bank area.
On social media throughout Tuesday evening people expressed prayers and concern for the safety of the vessel's crew as the incident unfolded.
People in southwestern Nova Scotia also reported hearing aircraft passing overhead. “You could hear it over the wind,” posted on person. “Help is coming.”
