Dartmouth, Nova Scotia - The Canadian Coast Guard plays an essential role in ensuring the safety of mariners and the protection of Canada's marine environment. This is why providing Canadian Coast Guard personnel with the vessels they need to continue to deliver these critical services to Canadians through the National Shipbuilding Strategy is a priority for the Government of Canada.
Today, the Canadian Coast Guard officially dedicated the CCGS Hare Bay into service at a ceremony at the search and rescue station in Sambro, Nova Scotia.
Gary Ivany, Assistant Commissioner for the Canadian Coast Guard Atlantic Region and Marc Mes, Director General for Fleet and Maritime Services, were joined by Sipekne'katik First Nation elder Joe Michael, and vessel sponsors Leslie Harnish and Kim MacKay in the traditional breaking of a ceremonial bottle upon the ship's bow.
CCGS Hare Bay was acquired by the Canadian Coast Guard in May 2021. The vessel is the ninth of 20 new search and rescue Lifeboats that are named after geographical bays across Canada.
The lifeboats are specifically designed, equipped and crewed to respond to search and rescue incidents at sea. These vessels can operate up to 100 nautical miles from shore, maintain a maximum 30-minute state-of-readiness, and are typically ready to respond the moment an alert is received.
New search and rescue vessels are being stationed across Canada to provide key search and rescue services including searches on the water, response to marine distress calls, as well as assistance to disabled vessels. So far, seven of the lifeboats have been delivered to the Atlantic Region.
