John Cummins, M.P. Delta-South Richmond

News Release

October 31, 2002

Coast Guard Brass Deliberately Neutered Dive Team
Air-Supply Gear Missing on Fateful Day

OTTAWA– "Nothing speaks as clearly of the need for an inquiry into the state of the Coast Guard as the handling of the failed rescue of those trapped inside the capsized fishing vessel, the Cap Rouge, on August 13, 2002. It is now clear the main impediment to Coast Guard divers attempting the rescue of those trapped inside the capsized Cap Rouge was that their surface air-supply equipment had been disposed of when the dive team was disbanded in 2001 and never replaced," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond).

When the dive team was disbanded in February 2001, the CG brass moved hastily to ensure that the divers at Sea Island adjacent to the Vancouver International Airport could never again make rescue dives – they immediately disposed of the "panel" that provided surface-supplied air. When the dive team was re-established in July 2001, the surface air-supply gear was gone. The divers requested surface air-supply, but the top brass refused, thus guaranteeing that the dive team could never again safely enter an overturned vessel to rescue those who might be trapped inside.

Continuous air from the surface allows divers to enter overturned vessels with a measure of safety. If a problem arises while inside the vessel there is no danger of running out of air. On August 13, 2002 the divers were forced to rely only on the meagre air supply they had brought with them. Unfortunately they ran out of air and more had to be brought from shore. If they had gone into the Cap Rouge with their limited air supply, it could have cost the divers their lives as well.

The CG brass, who saw to it that the surface air-supply gear was immediately disposed of, also saw to it that the gear was never replaced. Because the brass did not give the divers the necessary surface air-supply, the divers had to stand aside while knowing people were trapped inside the Cap Rouge. Later when questions were asked as to why the divers had not attempted a rescue, those very same "leaders" ghoulishly suggested that the divers could have entered the Cap Rouge if they had only known the rules.

"The standing orders of the CG fleet strictly forbid such a dive; moreover, the divers lacked the necessary surface air to make the dive. CG Commissioner John Adams ensured that the divers did not break his order prohibiting such dives by simply refusing to give them the surface air to do the job. No diver should ever have to sacrifice his life for the incompetence of Commissioner Adams."

"An evil is at work in the Coast Guard that would trade the lives of divers and those trapped aboard the Cap Rouge for the few dollars it would have cost to replace the surface air-supply gear. The same ‘leaders', who now claim that the divers could have made the dive knowing full-well that if the divers had attempted the dive without enough air to return to the surface, they would have been on a suicide mission," concluded Cummins.

Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957, (604) 940-8040 or cell (604) 970-0937