Formed in 1988, the Grimsby Auxiliary Marine Rescue Unit is an Ontario not for profit organization dedicated to saving lives and protecting property on the water through timely, disciplined and effective search and rescue (SAR) services.  GAMRU South Shore Search And Rescue is a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Central & Arctic.

GAMRU South Shore Search And Rescue is the only dedicated marine search and rescue organization on the south shore of Lake Ontario between Hamilton and Port Weller.  South Shore Search And Rescue was added to the GAMRU name in early 2017. 

Our organization, run entirely by a team of dedicated volunteers, receives no funding from municipal, provincial or federal governments.  Funding for the expense of training, fuel, vessels, maintenance, equipment, etc. is the responsibility of GAMRU South Shore Search And Rescue.  The Unit provides the basic safety equipment for members, though many members purchase their own.

Our two rescue vessels, based in Grimsby Harbour and Fifty Point Marina, are dispatched to missions by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton. JRCC determines when and how vessels conduct their SAR activities.  Vessels and members are on stand-by 24 hours a day through the boating season, usually from April to November.

Current vessels:  

A rigid hulled inflatable Zodiac Hurricane 630 with twin Honda 90 horsepower outboard engines.

A 34-foot steel hulled cutter powered by twin 317 horsepower diesel engines.

GAMRU South Shore Search And Rescue vessels work in cooperation with other agencies and emergency services like the Canadian Forces, police, fire and ambulance under the coordination of JRCC.  Unit vessels also support the work of the Canadian Coast Guard.