Comprehensive Maritime Search and Rescue Resource Planning

加拿大的海上搜救(SAR)是一项非常有价值的服务。为了用有限数量的加拿大海岸警卫队(CCG)船只对我们广阔的通航水域提供最好的覆盖，需要仔细规划。运营环境非常复杂，交通非常多样化，如商船、渔船、游艇、渡轮和邮轮，有时在恶劣的天气条件下运营。这项研究项目旨在利用历史的SAR事件数据、当前的交通模式以及现有的海岸警卫队船只类型和位置来开发一个模型，以确定是否可以对船只进行不同的分配以提高覆盖范围。该模型还有其他几种用途。如果一艘搜救船只意外停止服务，可能需要临时重新安排其他CCG船只以弥补缺口，该模型对于计算各种安排的影响特别有用。从长远来看，应急船只需要更换。该模型还可用于评估船队配置，即不同类型的海岸警卫队船只的组合是实现最佳反应能力的最具成本效益的组合。 这个资产选址模型的一个有趣变化是评估加拿大北部的需求。随着全球变暖导致北极冰川消退，以及北方资源勘探和旅游业的增长，在该地区提供搜救服务的需求越来越大。然而，那里的海上事故如此罕见，而且面积如此之大，以至于在加拿大北极提供专用救生艇并不划算。我们的研究将审查目前的应对机制，资产主要设在南部基地，并考虑偏远的概念及其对北方应对规划的影响。偏远当然包括距离作为一个关键因素，但它也包括其他可访问性问题，如恶劣天气、缺乏支持响应资源的基础设施，以及潜在的通信困难。因此，上述通用响应模型将被定制，以适用于北方海上交通所面临的恶劣、遥远和危险的环境。

Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) in Canada is a very valuable service. To provide the best coverage over our vast expanses of navigable waters with a limited number of Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) vessels requires careful planning. The operating environment is very complicated, with a great diversity of traffic such as commercial ships, fishing vessels, recreational boating, ferries, and cruise ships, sometimes operating in difficult weather conditions. This research project aims to develop a model using historical SAR incident data, current traffic patterns, and existing Coast Guard vessel types and locations, to determine whether the vessels can be assigned differently to improve coverage. There are several other uses of the model. If a SAR vessel unexpected goes out of service, it may be necessary to rearrange other CCG vessels temporarily to cover the gap, and the model is particularly useful for calculating what the implications of various arrangements are. In the longer term, response vessels need to be replaced. The model can also be used to assess fleet configurations, that is what mix of different types of Coast Guard vessels is the most cost effective to achieve the best response capability. One interesting variation on this asset location model is to assess the need in Canada's north. As the Arctic ice recedes due to global warming, and resource exploration and tourism grow in the north, there is an increased need to provide SAR services in that region. However, maritime incidents there are so rare and the area is so vast that it is not cost-effective to provide dedicated lifeboats across Canada's Arctic. Our research will examine the current response regime, with assets that are primarily based in southern bases, and consider the concept of remoteness and what influence it has on response planning in the North. Remoteness of course includes distance as a key factor, but it also encompasses other accessibility issues such as bad weather, lack of infrastructure for supporting response resources, and potential communication difficulties. So the general response model described above will be customized to apply to the harsh, distant, and risky environment faced by marine traffic up north.