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The Log • Aug. 28 - Sept. 10, 2015 • 13


Select members of the Search and Rescue Unit at Mexico’s Segundo Region Naval Base in Ensenada stay on watch for potential distress calls off the Baja California coast. The unit includes two life-saving dogs and a fleet of three boats.


Mexican Navy works with American boaters Officials push to educate boaters, provide assistance in distress situations.


By Parimal M. Rohit


ENSENADA — The Mexican Navy invited The Log to spend a few hours at the country’s Segundo Región Naval Base in Ensenada to observe its Search and Rescue (SAR) operations; this writer also had a brief meeting on Aug. 19 with the Port of Ensenada to gain a little insight of how local and federal officials interact with boaters.


Getting to know the Mexican Navy


The Mexican Navy regularly moni-


tors the Baja California coastline for all sorts of boating activities between San Diego and Los Cabos. A naval unit in Ensenada, the first official port American boaters reach when traveling into Mexico from the California coast, is the first line of defense for suspi- cious activity but is also making an effort to ensure anyone in danger dur- ing nautical emergencies is attended to immediately and educate recreational boaters of the proper paperwork need- ed to navigate south of the border.


Search and Rescue Mexico’s Navy instituted its Search


and Rescue (SAR) unit in 2009. The first unit was launched in Puerto Vallarta; the second unit arrived in Ensenada on Aug. 13, 2009. Lt. Cmdr. Lois Mora Palacios said the aim of each SAR unit is to


become as efficient as possible in responding to nauti- cal emergencies. A SAR unit is also


operational in Los Cabos; a new unit is planned for San Felipe, which is at the top of the Sea of Cortez. “It is quite important that the pub-


One of the Search and Rescue Unit’s life-saving dogs demonstrated how he helps bring a potential drowning victim to shore.


lic realize what a great service the Mexican Navy provides in the realm of Search and Rescue,” said Ken Franke, president of the Sportfishing Association of California. “Their equip- ment is state of the art and their train- ing is excellent.”


The SAR unit in Ensenada is equipped with three vessels: two high- speed 33 footers and one 47-foot ves- sel. Palacios said the 47 footer func-


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tions similar to a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter. Two rescue dogs are also deployed into the water whenever someone is drowning.


Each of the high-speed boats are


known as Defender and can tow up to 2.7 tons, travel up to 250 nautical miles and reach a top speed of 50 knots. The larger 47 footer also has a 250-nauti- cal-mile range but can tow up to 150 tons and features a top speed of 25 knots. Palacios added the SAR unit, which


is on watch 24 hours per day, has access to all Navy assets, including hel- icopters and first responder gear. The SAR unit monitors VHF Ch. 16 and dig- ital selective calling (DSC) for possible distress calls. Boaters experiencing a life-threat- ening emergency while on the water need to provide the SAR unit with four basic pieces of information:


• Time • Position


• Number of people on board • Nature of the distress.


The SAR unit out of Ensenada immediately responds to distress calls by boat between Tijuana and Cabo Colnett, from the shoreline to about 10.5 nautical miles out to sea; the unit can response to any distress calls with- in a 90-nautical-mile radius by heli- copter.


Those seriously injured while out at sea can be transported to a nearby hospital by boat or helicopter. Members of Ensenada’s SAR unit


shared stories of notable rescues they performed, including one where some- one who dived off a 60-meter cliff (almost 200 feet) and into the water.


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Photos by Parimal M. Rohit


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