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SAR Station Port Weller |
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Late October winds howl around the Canadian Coast Guard's Port Weller SAR Station Niagara. A northwest gale whips western Lake Ontario. A distress call crackles over the radio from a boater in trouble on the western end of the lake. The station's four-person crew dons their gear and heads for one or both of the boats at their disposal. Barely wasting a moment, they scream out into the lake, past the safety of the Port Weller piers, and into seas running 12-15 feet high. It's another routine day at the office for Leading Seamen Chris VanKoppen and Clint Thompson, Engineer Maurice Ethier and relief Commanding Officer Paul Beesley (current relief commanding officer).
The station responds to approximately 75-100 calls a year from boaters in trouble from late March to mid-December.
The station is located on a scenic peninsula at the entrance to the Welland
Canal. The location may be unfamiliar to most boat watchers as the station is
hidden from view on restricted property owned by the Seaway north of Lock 1
on the west side of the canal. This location offers front row seating for
boat watching as freighters pass a short distance off the station.
The crew’s primary vessel is the search and rescue vessel C.G.R. 100, a Multi -Task Medium Endurance Lifeboat, part of the Canadian Coast Guard (Central Region) fleet since 1987.
C.G.R. 100 has an aluminum hull measuring 45’ 11” long, 15’ 09” wide and 5’ 07” draft. Jet driven, she’s powered by twin Caterpillar geared diesels of 525 hp each capable of driving her at 32 knots maximum speed (26 knots cruising speed). Cruising radius is 275 nautical miles and the C.G.R.
100 can run at full speed for 10 hours (12 hours at reduced speed). The
wheelhouse is quipped with VHF marine radio, radar, depth finder, GPS and
many other navigational aids. A bow compartment offers
storage
for the crew’s bright orange Mustang survival suits and provides space for
any survivors that may be brought aboard.
Also available is a bright orange, 19.4-foot Mark V Zodiac, powered by twin, 90 HP Evinrude outboards. Top speed is 39 knots.
Both boats are built to be self-righting if overcome by heavy seas.
The station’s area of coverage is from Oshawa, Ont., to Olcott, NY (and all areas west). Crewmembers are on 15-minute call, which means they can never travel more than 15 minutes from the station. On one recent, late-night call, the four were up and headed out five minutes after the distress signal was received.
The crew on duty shares a comfortable building that’s attached to the old lighthouse keeper’s quarters, built in 1931, for the Port Weller light north of Welland Canal Lock 1. Besides sleeping quarters, the station includes a combined kitchen/dining room, office, gymnasium, lounge and workshop. There are two crews in rotation with each working two weeks on and having two weeks off. Cooking and housekeeping duties are shared by two of the crewmembers.
During rescue calls, SAR Station Port Weller works side by side with their U.S. counterparts and enjoys a strong relationship with the crew at the U.S. Coast Guard station located at the mouth of the Niagara River in the shadow of historic Fort Niagara.
After an accident last year in which two of their U.S. Coast Guard comrades lost their lives, the crew of the Port Weller station honored their fallen brothers with a plaque at a small memorial site at the U.S. Coast Guard base overlooking the Niagara River.
The plaque, placed near an inscribed brass bell, reads “Honour and courage shall always reside here... Working together without borders. In Memory of Petty Officer Second Class Scott J. Chism and Seaman Christopher E. Ferreby.”
Another plaque reads “This bell honors our fallen shipmates. May it never be torn down. May it stand strong like them and they country they served.”
SAR Station Port Weller at the Lake Ontario Entrance to the Welland Canal
- Taken during the open house on Saturday
by Dave Wobser
- Station Port Weller.
- Former lighthouse keepers quarters now part of the station.
- Dock situated on the entrance to the canal..
- Looking north to Toronto across Lake Ontario from the station grounds. The tour was interrupted Saturday as the crew was called for a rescue on Lake Ontario.
- Paul Beesley in the communications center during a tour on Saturday.
On October 20 the editorial staff of Great Laker magazine joined the crew at Station Port Weller to ride along on a typical patrol. Our trip took us from the station at Port Weller, across Lake Ontario to the Niagara River, then back to Port Weller after a quick visit to Port Dalhousie east of Port Weller.
Our patrol begins as we depart the station Sunday morning. (pictures by Roger LeLievre and N. Schultheiss)
- Depating CCG SAR Station Port Weller.
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Passing the Port Weller Piers into Lake Ontario.
- Onto the open lake.
- Speeding across Lake Ontario.
- Close up.
- Interior view.
- Paul Beesley explains the C.G.R. 100's mission.
- Crew inside the C.G.R. 100
- Another view.
- Clint Thompson explains the high tech equipment used for search & rescue missions.
Our trip lasts 20 minutes and we reach the Niagara River. The upper river offers swift currents that run at 15 knots making plenty of work for the helmsman.
- Passing Historic Fort Niagara.
- Fort Niagara and USCG Station Niagara.
- Inbound the Niagara River.
- Another view.
- Passing one of the many yacht clubs.
- Clint Thompson at the helm.
- The Niagara River's Fall colors and a warm morning sun provide a scenic back drop for the C.G.R. 100.
- Flags flying.
- Onboard.
- Speeding into the 15 knot current.
- The Mark V following in the C.G.R. 100's Rooster Tail.
- Another view
- Chris VanKoppen at the controls on the Mark V.
- C.G.R. 100 passing under the Queenston Lewiston Bridge.
- View from the Mark V.
- Swift current of the Niagara River.
- Passing the Ontario Hydro Power Station on the Niagara River.
- Another view.
- Close up of the Sir Adam Beck Niagara Generating Station.
- The agile C.G.R. 100 turns 360 degrees in its own length.
- Running with the swift current, the Mark 5 reaches 42 knots in the river.
- Mark V pulls off our port side.
- View from the Mark V.
- The nimble Mark V passes astern.
- Another run.
- We head up river, Paul Beesley on the stern.
Outbound we make a quick stop at the U.S. Coast guard Station Niagara. The Station Port Weller crew carries a portable radio, ready to depart at a moments notice.
- Greeted by David Singleton at USCG Station Niagara.
- Station mascot "Chance" stands watch.
- Memorial to the lost crew members.
- Close up.
- The Bell.
- Memorial plaque.
- Plaque from CCG SAR Station Port Weller.
We depart heading for Port Dalhousie west of Port Weller
- Passing Fort Niagara back into Lake Ontario.
- Engineer Maurice Ethier monitors the Mark V's position from the stern.
- A quick trip across the lake and we arrive at the Port Dalhousie outer range light
- Port Dalhousie inner light
- Entrance to the old Welland Canal at Port Dalhousie
- Roger Lelievre on the Mark V Zodiac.
- C.G.R. 100 from the Mark V
- We leave Port Dalhousie for Port Weller.
- Another view.
- Close up.
Patrol complete we return to Station Port Weller
- Inbound passing the Port Weller Pier Head Light.
- Slow day for vessel traffic and the Welland Canal Control Center allowed us to enter Lock for a closer look.
- Approaching Lock 1
- C.G.R. 100 appears tiny in the lock.
- Close up of the Lock sill.
- Tug Petite Fort and barge St. Marys Cement depart after holding for weather.
- Close up.
-
Wide view.
- Back at the station, the crew poses for a picture on the C.G.R. 100. (From L. to R. Paul Beesley, Maurice Ethier, Chris VanKoppen and Clint Thompson.)
- As soon as we are docked the fuel is topped off, ready for any emergency call.
- Fluid levels are checked and topped off by Engineer Maurice Ethier.
- One of the diesel engines below the deck.
- Jet drives that propel the C.G.R. 100.
- Forward compartment
- Controls.
- Port Weller Light.
- Another view.
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