Two members of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces have been awarded the Star of Courage for their heroic rescue  of  Unifor Local 1944 members aboard the fishing vessel Atlantic Destiny, when it caught fire and sank off the coast of Nova Scotia in March 2021.

“Our union remembers that day vividly and commends the bravery and skill of those receiving the Star of Courage,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “We send our sincere thanks to Warrant Officer Fernando Bianco and Sergeant Bradley Nisbet for rescuing the Atlantic Destiny crew and celebrate this recognition alongside them.”

Bianco and Nisbet were each awarded the Star of Courage by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon at a ceremony held today at Rideau Hall.

As is often the case in the close-knit communities in the Atlantic, Star of Courage recipient Bradly Nisbet is the son-in-law to Kevin Touesnard, a retired member of Local 972 at Port Hawkesbury Paper.
“Workers are family in the Atlantic,” said Murray. “We look out for each other.”

The Atlantic Destiny was caught in high-wind conditions and 10-metre seas more than 200 nautical miles off the coast of Nova Scotia on March 2 when their vessel’s fire alarm sounded.

Watch this video about the rescue effort:

Members reported afterwards that no one panicked because their regular safety drills and training kicked in. All aboard immediately met on deck and went to work with fire extinguishers and a fire suppression grenade, but once the crew noticed the vessel’s engine room was taking on water, they issued a distress call that was answered by Unifor members at the Coast Guard Marine Communications and Traffic Services base in Halifax.

Other fishing vessels in nearby waters, including fellow Unifor members aboard the Maude Adams, rushed to support the rescue efforts.

Warrant Officer Bianco and Sergeant Nisbet were aboard the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) plane that deployed from CFB Greenwood. With the help of U.S. Coast Guard, they spent nearly eight hours in high winds and freezing cold seas to evacuate all 31 souls on board.

“Thirty-one sailors went home to their families because of the diligent, determined work done by a team that includes the brave RCAF members Bianco and Nisbet, the Unifor members on board FV Atlantic Destiny and the FV Maude Adams, and the Coast Guard dispatchers at Local 2182,” said Murray. “Working on the sea is made safer because of the brave workers like you who respond in emergencies.”

Local 1944 President Trevor Banfield said it was a daunting rescue mission in those conditions and the crew was fortunate to be in such good hands.

“It takes incredible strength and bravery to work on the ocean for a living,” said Banfield. “But it’s made easier when you know there are teams of good people willing to fight against weather, the dark and the cold, and anything else that gets thrown at them to save your life when things go wrong.”