HMS NANAIMO searched a buoy in the water for contraband and instead discovered a sea turtle entangled in the rigging on November 2, 2018 during OPERATION CARIBBE. Photo By: Capt Jennifer Jackson XC53-2018-0009-052
A sea turtle that was trapped in a buoy’s rigging was saved by officers on the HMCS Nanaimo off the coast of Central America.
Capt. Jenn Jackson, Operation Caribe’s Public Affairs Officer, said the sea turtle was discovered on Nov. 1 while the HMCS Nanaimo was on patrol in the eastern Pacific Ocean for Operation Caribe, a U.S.-led operation to stop drug trafficking in the Carribbean and off the Pacific coast of Central America.
According to Jackson, the ship’s lookout saw something suspicious in the water. The ship’s bridge watchkeeper determined it was a fishing buoy and contacted the commanding officer, who decided to see if there was contraband in the buoy.
When the ship got closer, the officers were able to see a sea turtle with a flipper tangled in the fishing buoy’s rigging. Since they were unable to free the turtle and examine the buoy from the side of the ship, the commanding officers launched an inflatable boat.
“We got the order to launch the boat and I was lucky enough to be available as boat coxswain – the boat driver,” the boatswain in the HMCS Nanaimo, who cannot be named for operational
security, said in a statement. “Acting as a boat coxswain is one of the last things I needed to do to complete my Qualification Level-4 Package and going to investigate a fishing buoy for drugs and free a turtle was a great way to do it.”
They were joined by a second boatswain. When the two got to the buoy, the second boatswain pulled it up and freed the turtle. The turtle then swam away.
“After that, I checked the buoy for anything unusual, but it was clear. Some days we help keep drugs off the street, some days we help turtles, the best days we get to do both,” the second boatswain said in a statement.
The inflatable boat then returned to the HMCS Nanaimo.
Lt.-Cmdr Jason Bergen, commanding officer of the HMCS Nanaimo, said the Royal Canadian Navy has a reputation for rescuing sea turtles during Operation Caribe and he didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity during this deployment.
“I also wanted to check the buoy for contraband and knew one of the Boatswains needed to act as a boat coxswain to complete his training package, so it turned out to be a win-win for everyone,” Bergen said in a statement.
A member from HMCS NANAIMO successfully frees a sea turtle tangled in a buoy line on November 2, 2018 during OPERATION CARIBBE. Photo By: Capt Jennifer Jackson XC53-2018-0009-059
A member from HMCS NANAIMO works to free a sea turtle tangled in a buoy line on November 3, 2018 during OPERATION CARIBBE. Photo By: Capt Jennifer Jackson XC53-2018-0009-054
Upon discovering a sea turtle entagled with a buoy, HMCS NANAIMO launched a Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat in an effort to free it November 2, 2018 during OPERATION CARIBBE. Photo By: Capt Jennifer Jackson XC53-2018-0009-053
HMC Ships Edmonton, Nanaimo and Moncton are currently deployed on Operation Caribbe.
Alexa Huffman
