G.R. 1

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada reports that "The Fast Rescue Craft (FRC) "G.R.1", dispatched from the "GORDON REID" on 29 March 1997 in response to an urgent SAR (Search and Rescue) call, struck a rock at about 0140[1] at a speed of approximately 30 knots. All three occupants were thrown from the boat and projected over the rock, landing in the water on the opposite side. The boat, carried by momentum, flew through the air some 18m and came to rest at the water's edge also on the other side. The three persons, with various injuries, were rescued by other boats and taken to hospital. The badly damaged FRC was removed from the rock and transported to the CCG yard in Victoria, B.C. where it was declared a total loss. " "The Zodiac Hurricane 733 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat is an open boat with two inflated tubes forming its sides and a bottom made of fibreglass and aluminum. The propulsion is provided by two outboard motors capable of attaining a speed of approximately 50 knots at full throttle. A number of these boats are owned by the Canadian Coast Guard and designated as Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).

They are adapted and allocated to the CCG patrol vessels and commonly referred to by using the vessel's initials. The "G.R.1" was allocated to the "GORDON REID", a CCG patrol vessel plying the waters of the British Columbia coast. It was secured on a specially designed stern ramp and launched and manned when necessary by the crew of the mother ship. It was fitted with three seats, two side by side at the stern and one in front of them. The occupants would straddle the seats which, along with hand rails, gave them good protection against accidentally falling overboard. No safety belts were affixed to the seats. Reportedly, the seat belts are not suitable for these craft and would restrict the occupants in their ability to balance their bodies when the boat is rolling and pitching. "