Joint Agency Emergency Response Exercise at Canada Place Cruise Terminal Wednesday, April 15, 2015

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - April 14, 2015) - An annual exercise to test local emergency response and security will be conducted on Wednesday, April 15 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at and around the Canada Place cruise terminal.

Participating agencies include Port Metro Vancouver, the Canadian Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, E-Comm 9-1-1, BC Emergency Health Services, Canada Border Services Agency, CERES Corp and other agencies. In total, about 400 people will be involved.

It should be noted this exercise in no way conflicts with the work being done in relation to the cleanup of the MV Marathassa oil spill in English Bay.

Transport Canada regulations require an exercise be conducted every 18 months to test security plans and emergency response, however this exercise is conducted annually. The exercise, which has been planned for months and requires tremendous preparation, provides an opportunity for agencies to collaborate, practice and improve on our collective ability to provide emergency response and search and rescue operations. Port Metro Vancouver regularly conducts exercises to rehearse response to security, marine and natural disaster incidents, both internally and externally, including in collaboration with the inter-agency Marine Emergency Response Coordination Committee (MERCC).

The exercise will take place at Canada Place and on the surrounding water. Members of the public may experience flashing lights, sirens of emergency responder vehicles and heightened activity in and around the cruise terminal, as well as see a variety of vessels on the water around Canada Place as part of the exercise.

About Port Metro Vancouver

Port Metro Vancouver is Canada's largest port and the fourth largest tonnage port in North America, responsible for Canada's trade with more than 160 world economies. Located in a naturally beautiful setting on Canada's west coast, Port Metro Vancouver is responsible for the efficient and reliable movement of goods and passengers, and integrates environmental, social and economic sustainability initiatives into all areas of port operations. Port Metro Vancouver is committed to meaningful engagement with the communities in which it operates and the shared obligation to improve the quality of life for Canadians. Enabling the trade of approximately $187 billion in goods annually, the port generates an estimated 100,000 jobs, $6.1 billion in wages, and $9.7 billion in GDP across Canada. As a non-shareholder, financially self-sufficient corporation established by the Government of Canada, Port Metro Vancouver operates pursuant to the Canada Marine Act, and is accountable to the elected federal Minister of Transport.