News release:

Puget Sound Area Police and Fire Marine Units to Participate in a Multi Agency, Open Water Search and Rescue Drill with the Coast Guard.

What: Northwest Maritime Rescue, a subsidiary of Puget Sound Dive Charters, together with Exotic Aquatics, will be hosting their second annual multi agency open water search and rescue drill. This yearʼs drill is based on emergency cases that have occurred on the Puget Sound throughout the past year. This drill is designed to give local law enforcement, fire rescue, and Coast Guard marine units an opportunity to work in together in a multi-agency setting. The units will be working together along with Coast Guard helicopters to implement a variety of maritime emergencies on both the open water and limited access coastline areas. The following agencies are participating in this drill; Bainbridge Island Police Department, Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Suquamish Police Department, Washington State Fish and Wildlife, Poulsbo Police Department, Poulsbo Fire Department, Coast Guard Station Seattle, and Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles.

Northwest Maritime Rescue was created to provide training opportunities for Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue Units throughout the Puget Sound in order to make our waters safer for everyone. Northwest Maritime Rescue aims to expand their training opportunities to the recreational boating community and offers courses in search and rescue, boater safety, navigation, water survival, CPR/AED, and remote first aid.

When: Monday, March 26th, 12:00 PM

Where: On Puget Sound, near Blakely Rock, which is just off the southeast coast of Bainbridge Island. [map] The drill will commence in the area between Restoration Point and Eagle Harbor. Depending on weather conditions, the drill activities may be seen from Alki Beach in West Seattle and both Blakely and Eagle Harbor areas of Bainbridge Island. The area of operation for this drill is between two major ferry routes; the Seattle to Bainbridge run as well as the Seattle to Bremerton. We expect the event to generate a lot of curiosity from not only ferry passengers, but residents in the area both from King and Kitsap County.