New SAR Initiatives Fund (NIF)

Final Summary Report 2009-2010

[PDF 28Kb]

Coast Guard Rescue Diver Training Tank

PROJECT NUMBER/NIFID:

DFO 1/09 NIF ID 200901 Project Code: MSS68

FINANCIAL SUMMARY:

Total Project Cost $ 120,481.25 with NSS contribution of 107,476.80

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The Diver Training Tank is an alternative training environment. It has been professionally designed & engineered to provide a safe and controlled setting in which a diver can train while being monitored through direct line of sight at all times.

PROPOSAL OBJECTIVES:

To provide a readily available and accessible training tank for CCG divers and students at the CCG Sea Island Base.  To facilitate ‘interoperability’ training and familiarization between CCG and RCMP divers and CCG and CF divers.

The tank provides instructors and students with the ability to train and learn emergency drills and continuing proficiency techniques in a safe and fully observable setting – one free of the environmental hazards associated with “open water” training (such as reduced visibility, current and underwater fouling hazards), and one complete with unlimited air supply, secure communications and video observation and play-back utilities. Provides a valuable contribution to basic familiarization, interoperability, public education and awareness vis a vis demonstration, SOP’s and communications with mutual aid agencies.

IMPACT/BENEFITS:

The primary benefit of the Dive Training Tank (DTT) is personnel safety – particularly during the initial diver emergency training scheme.  The DTT reduces the exposure of divers to the risks of potentially contaminated environments of the Fraser River, and affords instructors with assured “line of sight” of their students.

Additionally the DTT reduces the absolute risks presented by training for risk of entrapment diving [which currently includes net entanglement, line and umbilical fouling, and debris strikes in dynamic current environments].

The cache of emergency procedures can now be conducted & effectively evaluated through a direct line of sight and by aborting or scaling back scenarios when students encounter difficulties that an instructor might miss in an otherwise “open water training environment". (As a diver training school accredited by the Diver Certification Board of Canada various CSA standards must be met – including the provision of controlled and high visibility training environments for instructors and students. The DTT is most tangible evidence of meeting these safety requirements.)

EVALUATION:

Overall proof of performance is complete. The tank is exceeding expectations in terms of continued proficiency and recurrency training of CCG diving personnel. Proof of performance with respect to interoperability and public education is ongoing. The DTT currently meets the performance requirements of the CCG dive team simply based upon the safety and accessibility benefits.

Regulatory benefits: Obligations of maintaining diving endorsements driven by the Canada Labour Code, CSA Z275.2, Z275.4, Z275.5 and the Fleet Safety Management system are being met.

COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES:

Current communications are underway with the RCMP URT and DND to aid with facilitating diver proficiency training within the local divisions. Communications & voting membership have been established within the CSA Technical Diving and Caisson workers committees as CCG is able to develop certain training and competency standards ‘outside’ commercial diving school business contexts. The committee(s) see CCG as a uniquely valuable asset – in terms of its status as an accredited “Not for profit” training agency and school.

BIBLIOGRAPHY REFERENCE:

References include: The Diver Certification Board of Canada – Accreditation Guide, CAN CSA Z275.2 Occupational Safety Code for Diving Operations, CAN CSA Z275.4 Competency Standard for Diving Operations, CAN CSA Z275.5 Occupational Diver Training Standard, Safety Management System - CCG Public Safety Diving Program procedures.

SUGGESTED FOLLOW-UP/ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

We will endeavour to continue offering our facility to other agencies, public venues, and open houses.  The potential has very few limitations.  The DTT can be utilized to facilitate other aquatic based, fleet/ship board, land based training such as:

• Test tank for scaled “Capsized vessel” models & ROV’s; this will be an important part of the future use of the DTT – research & development of secondary stabilization and scene management for these kinds of incidents.
• Modular compartments can be installed to provide alternative Capsized Vessel training within the DTT itself.
• A piping network can be installed to enable the DTT to become a damage control trainer for Fleet / seamanship use.
• The DTT in a “dry” state has already been used with First Aid “extrication” training and “confined space rescue” training.

The DTT was originally engineered to be “scaled” up in size – including by “double decking” the primary tank, which would provide an additional 8ft in depth and more overall capacity.  The control cabin can easily be modified to accommodate adjacent tank(s) therefore increasing overall capability to facilitate training in a multitude of environments simultaneously.

These options should be exercised as resources become available for the purpose.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Coordination

National Search and Rescue Secretariat
275 Slater Street, 4th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

Tel: 613-996-2782
Fax: 613-996-3746

Web Site: www.nss.gc.ca

Project Manager:

Capt. Brian Wootton
Officer-In-Charge CCG Base Sea Island
(604-803-9114)

Stewart Simms
CCG Diving Safety Officer CCG Base Sea Island
(604-278-7717)