Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre St. John's (MRSC St. John's) is one of two Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre's operated by the Canadian Coast Guard.
MRSC St. John's is tasked with coordinating maritime search and rescue operations in waters surrounding the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and has an area of responsibility that is located wholly within the search and rescue region (SRR) of Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax (JRCC Halifax).
In Canada, MRSCs are established to enhance maritime SAR co-ordination through improved communications and local knowledge. MRSCs thus expedite the initiation of appropriate action and allow a timely response to SAR incidents within their Search and Rescue Sub-Region (SRS). The responsibilities of an MRSC are similar to those of a JRCC, but on a smaller scale. MRSCs carry out SAR co-ordination functions under the authority of the SRR Commander through the JRCC, including co-ordinating responses to humanitarian incidents in accordance with national and regional policies. MRSCs normally co-ordinate maritime SAR incidents which occur within their SRS.
As such, MRSC St. John's is responsible for tasking appropriate maritime SAR resources in order to solve an incident, and may initiate request for other resources like Royal Canadian Air Force primary or secondary SAR aircraft or Royal Canadian Navy warships as required. Any SAR operation in response to an aircraft incident remains the responsibility of JRCC Halifax and MRSC St. John's may assist the JRCC in tasking and coordinating any maritime ressources and provide local expertise and assistance to the JRCC.
MRSC St. John's operates out of Canadian Coast Guard Base St. John's (CCG Base St. John's) since 1977.