MV Flare

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MV Flare was a bulk carrier. She was en route from Rotterdam to Quebec when she broke in two during severe weather approximately 45 min west of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon on January 16, 1998. The stern section of the bulk carrier sank within 30 minutes while the bow remained afloat for days. 21 crew members perished, four survived. Some of the crew on the sinking stern section saw the bow of another ship appear to approach them, only to realize that it was the separated front half of the Flare. The propeller on the stern section had still been turning, and had brought them back towards it. The survivors were rescued by a Labrador helicopter from Greenwood Nova Scotia, belonging to 413 Search and Rescue Squadron of the Canadian Forces. The Labrador crew consisted of aircraft commander, Capt Chris Brown, co-pilot Capt Rich Gough, flight engineer/winch operator MCpl Rob Butler, SAR Tech team leader SGT Tony Isaacs, and SAR Tech MCpl Paul Jackman. The lightly clothed survivors were taken to hospital in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and treated for extreme hypothermia. The bodies that were recovered were done so by the French Navy, Canadian Coast Guard and Navy ships, and a Labrador helicopter from 103 Rescue Unit in Gander NL.