Today, the Canadian Coast Guard officially dedicated into service the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) John Cabot. This is the third of three Offshore Fisheries Science Vessels built under the National Shipbuilding Strategy. These unique vessels serve as floating laboratories outfitted with modern research equipment to collect the data needed for the sustainable management of Canada's oceans and aquatic resources.
A dockside ceremony was held at the vessel's homeport, the Canadian Coast Guard's Atlantic Region headquarters in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. The ceremony included the traditional breaking of a bottle on the ship's bow by the vessel sponsor, Dr. M. Joanne Morgan.
In maritime tradition, the vessel sponsor is a civilian who participates in a vessel naming ceremony and takes an ongoing interest in the vessel's operations. The Canadian Coast Guard is proud to have Dr. Morgan as the vessel sponsor for the CCGS John Cabot. Dr. Morgan is a retired Fisheries and Oceans Canada Research Scientist. She was also the first woman to chair the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization's Scientific Council.
Through the National Shipbuilding Strategy, the Government of Canada is revitalizing the shipbuilding industry, creating good skilled jobs, and building whole new classes of ships to ensure Canada's marine services have safe, reliable and modern equipment to fulfill their missions.
Like all Canadian Coast Guard vessels, the CCGS John Cabot is also equipped to support environmental response and search and rescue operations, when needed.
