The Canadian Coast Guard inaugurated its newest near-shore fisheries research vessel CCGS Leim on 26 August.
The vessel was named in honour of the late Dr. Alexander Henry Leim, a DFO scientist who dedicated his life to fisheries research.
Since 2009, the Government of Canada has delivered several new vessels to the Canadian Coast Guard, including: 8 mid-shore patrol vessels, 2 hovercrafts, 5 search and rescue lifeboats, 3 specialty vessels, 3 near-shore fisheries research vessels, as well as numerous barges and small craft.
CCGS Leim was built in the Méridien Maritime Inc. shipyard in Matane and is replacing the CCGS Calanus II, whose 22-year service life is coming to an end. The vessel measures 22 meters and can reach a speed of 10 knots.
The acquisition of this new Near Shore Fisheries Research Vessel will benefit Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Ecosystems and Oceans Science programs. The CCGS Leim is one of four near shore fisheries research vessels. Three are deployed on the Atlantic coast and one is operating on the Pacific coast.
With Economic Action Plan 2012, the Government of Canada committed $5.2 billion to the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, in addition to $1.6 billion earmarked for fleet renewal over the past seven years.
The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans said: “Our Government has made historic investments to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and this is with great pride that I welcome the arrival of the CCGS Leim to our fleet. This new state-of-the-art vessel will carry out fisheries and oceanographic research missions in the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, and support with search and rescue and environmental response when needed.”