The Canadian Coast Guard relies on coordinated efforts and the availability of adequate resources to help keep waterways safe for mariners, protect the marine environment and respond to calls for assistance 365 days a year. In a day on average, the Canadian Coast Guard coordinates the response to 19 search and rescue incidents, responds to 13 search and rescue incidents, assisting 43 people and saving 13 lives. Due to this, the Government of Canada highly prioritizes providing Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the vessels they need to continue to deliver these critical services to Canadians.
June 14 marked the delivery of two Search and Rescue lifeboats – the 11th and 12th CCGS Chignecto Bay and the CCGS Shediac Bay – built by Chantier Naval Forillon from Gaspé, Quebec and Hike Metal Products Ltd. from Wheatley, Ontario respectively. The delivery of these boats marks the beginning of the homestretch on 20 Search and Rescue lifeboats under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. This achievement is an important step in providing the Canadian Coast Guard with safe, modern equipment needed to deliver critical services on behalf of Canadians.
“As we celebrate the delivery of the CCGS Chignecto Bay and CCGS Shediac Bay, we also mark the continued progress of small vessel construction under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. Delivery of these vessels demonstrates the Government of Canada’s priority to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and equip Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the equipment they need to help protect Canadians. Congratulations to Chantier Naval Forillon and to Hike Metal Products for their hard work to bring these ships into the fleet,” commented The Honourable Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The CCGS Chignecto Bay will be stationed in Port Bickerton, Nova Scotia, while the CCGS Shediac Bay will be stationed in Saint John, New Brunswick.
“Fisheries is the lifeblood of the local economy across Cape Breton and Northeastern Nova Scotia, and with that means safety needs to be first and foremost,” said Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard. “I’m so pleased to hear that Port Bickerton will be home to the CCGS Chignecto Bay – this new vessel will help the Coast Guard efficiently, safely, and effectively conduct search and rescue operations. I thank the Canadian Coast Guard on their ongoing service and their involvement in Guysborough County.”
Providing search and rescue services (including searches on the water), responding to marine distress calls, and providing assistance to disabled vessels will be some of the responsibilities of these vessels. Both are also equipped to perform environmental response operations to reduce the impacts of marine pollution incidents.
“These Search and Rescue lifeboats help us keep our waters safe for mariners and support our marine environmental response capabilities. It is a great day for our personnel and Canadians to have the CCGS Chignecto Bay and CCGS Shediac Bay join our fleet. These vessels will allow the Canadian Coast Guard to deliver critical services in the Atlantic region,” concluded Mario Pelletier, Commissioner, Canadian Coast Guard.