One of the Canadian Coast Guard’s newest Search and Rescue Lifeboats was christened at the Bay of Islands Yacht club yesterday and invited guests had a chance to tour the vessel. Gary Ivany is the Assistant Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Region. He says the vessel is purpose built for search and rescue operations and will provide seasonal, round the clock service for search and rescue, environmental response and other Coast Guard missions in Atlantic Canada.. He says this high endurance, Bay class lifeboat is fast, highly capable in challenging conditions, and crewed by skilled professionals, including rescue specialists.
Captain Kirk Collins is the Commanding Officer of the Groswater Bay, which is temporarily being stationed at the Yacht Club. There is a $15 million dollar upgrade underway at the Coast Guard wharf in Lark Harbour and Collins says the vessel will be permanently stationed there next summer. He says the vessel is high endurance capable of seas 7.5 metres, can do 25 knots, has self-righting capabilities and can carry 20 survivors onboard.
Qalipu First Nations Chief Jenny Brake was selected as the sponsor of the Groswater Bay and was the one who broke the bottle against the vessel. Brake is now referring to herself as the “Godmother” of the vessel.
The Groswater Bay is one of 20 new SAR lifeboats to be added to the Coast Guard fleet under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy.
